The Department of Health of India has stated that traces of the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) have been detected in 20-30 percent of samples taken from patients who tested positive for Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). To date, 8 deaths that are potentially related to GBS have been reported in Pune and other areas of Maharashtra, bringing the total number of suspected cases to 205, of which 177 have been confirmed as positive for GBS. According to official sources quoted by news agency ANI, C. jejuni is believed to be the trigger for the GBS outbreak in Maharashtra and Pune. Media reports have identified 72 sources in Pune, from which most GBS cases originate, as contaminated during surveillance. Water samples have been sent to the state Public Health Lab for chemical and biological testing, the results of which are still pending.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asserts that Campylobacter infection in humans can be transmitted through the consumption of contaminated poultry or other food items, the ingestion of untreated water, and direct contact with infected animals. While no specific cure for GBS is currently available, various treatment options exist to expedite recovery and mitigate the severity of symptoms. These include Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg), Plasmapheresis, and supportive care measures, which in most severe cases may necessitate mechanical ventilation.
