Pune (Maharashtra) [India], February 14 (HBTV): The bacteria Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is believed to be the cause of the outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in parts of Maharashtra, including Pune, according to official sources.

‘Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is being considered the cause behind the GBS outbreak in Maharashtra and Pune. Campylobacter is a known trigger, and other tests have returned negative,’ an official source said.

According to official sources, the bacteria has been detected in 20-30% of samples taken from patients who tested positive for Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

However, the investigation is ongoing until the root cause is fully identified. Campylobacter jejuni is associated with foodborne and waterborne diseases.

‘We collected multiple samples for testing at the NIV Pune ICMR lab, and this bacterium has been found in 20-30% of cases,’ the sources added.

So far, eight deaths suspected to be linked to Guillain-Barré Syndrome have been reported in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. A total of 205 suspected cases have been identified, with 177 patients diagnosed with GBS.

The state government recently stated that 41 cases are from Pune Municipal Corporation, 94 from newly added villages in the PMC area, 29 from Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, 32 from Pune Rural, and eight from other districts. Of these, 113 patients have been discharged, while 50 remain in the ICU, and 20 are on ventilators.

(ANI)