Pune: 60-Year-Old Dhayari Man Dies Of Suspected Guillain-Barré Syndrome; Death Toll Rises To 4, Total Cases Reach 140

A 60-year-old man from Pune's Dhayari, who was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), died after suffering a cardiac arrest at Poona Hospital on Friday morning, officials said.

According to the officials, the man had a rare condition called Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE). Reportedly, a few weeks ago, he had symptoms of loose motion. However, while he had weakness, the man was also drowsy and unable to pass urine. GBS was confirmed after an MRI and stool PCR tests identified that the patient had Campylobacter jejuni. This bacterium can trigger GBS by confusing the immune system into attacking the body's nerves. The man was reportedly responding to treatment in the last couple of days after being admitted on January 27 but died of cardiac arrest.

In another case, a 36-year-old man diagnosed with GBS died at the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital (YCMH) in Pimpri-Chinchwad on Thursday, officials said. The patient, who lived in Pimple Gurav and worked as a driver for a cab service, was admitted to YCMH on January 21, they said. The immediate cause of his death is said to be acute respiratory distress syndrome.

With these two deaths, the toll has risen to four. Earlier, two patients — a 56-year-old woman from Pune and a man from Solapur — had died due to suspected GBS.

Meanwhile, the total number of suspected GBS cases has risen to 140, with 111 admitted to hospitals, 45 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 18 on ventilators.

Most of the cases in the state have been reported from Pune and surrounding areas. These infections are likely linked to contaminated water sources.

Earlier on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar presided over a District Planning Committee meeting in Pune and instructed civic and district health officials to take stringent action against hospitals that overcharge GBS patients. Pawar, who is also Pune's Guardian Minister, instructed officials to ensure an adequate supply of drugs for GBS.