A 40-year-old man from Solapur has reportedly become Maharashtra’s first suspected death due to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). The patient, who was visiting his native village, initially experienced symptoms like cold, cough, and difficulty breathing. He was admitted to a private hospital on January 18 and placed in the ICU. Although his condition temporarily improved, his health deteriorated again, leading to paralysis in his limbs and ultimately his death in the ICU.
Dr. Sanjeev Thakur, Dean of Government Medical College, Solapur, confirmed that preliminary post-mortem findings point to GBS as the cause of death. To ensure accuracy, cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples have been sent for further analysis. The final confirmation will depend on microbiological and histopathological reports, expected within a week.
In Pune, there are now 101 GBS cases, including 16 patients who are presently on ventilator support. Health officials have stepped up their surveillance with the Rapid Response Team (RRT) and Pune Municipal Corporation monitoring more than 25,000 homes in Pune and the neighboring areas.
In GBS, an uncommon autoimmune disease, the immune system targets peripheral nerves, causing weakening and occasionally paralysis. Although rare, it frequently appears after a bacterial or viral illness and affects people of all ages, particularly adult males.
