Sat Jan 25 02:03:29 UTC 2025: **Pune Sees Spike in Suspected Guillain-Barré Syndrome Cases**

PUNE, INDIA – January 25, 2025 – Health officials in Pune reported a significant increase in suspected cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder. Six new suspected cases were confirmed on Friday, bringing the total to 73. The surge prompted the state health department to establish a Rapid Response Team (RRT) on Tuesday to investigate the outbreak.

Of the 73 suspected cases, 47 are women and 26 are men. Fourteen patients are currently on ventilator support. The RRT and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health department are conducting extensive surveillance in affected areas, primarily the Sinhgad Road region. Over 7,200 houses have been surveyed across Pune Municipal Corporation, Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, and rural areas.

GBS causes sudden numbness and muscle weakness, often affecting the limbs and accompanied by symptoms such as diarrhea. While doctors state that bacterial and viral infections can trigger GBS by weakening the immune system, they emphasize that the condition is not expected to develop into an epidemic or pandemic. Most patients, they add, make a full recovery with appropriate treatment. The condition affects both pediatric and young adult populations.

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