Guillain-Barré Syndrome Outbreak: Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar Visits Pune As Cases Cross 100 (VIDEOS) | Facebook
Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar visited Pune on Monday amid the Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) outbreak in the district. He inspected a well in Nanded village on Sinhgad Road, from where the water is supplied to adjoining villages, and said the state health department and the Pune Municipal Corporation’s health officials are taking necessary measures to curb the cases.
Abitkar said the source of water in the well was probed by expert teams, and based on their reports, a decision will be taken. He said, “Generally, death does not occur due to this disease. However, in an unfortunate case, a patient suspected to have contracted GBS died in Solapur. Precautions are being taken, and awareness is being created to ensure no further casualties.”
The Health Minister further stated that the ailment has been included in the Mahatma Phule Health Scheme, under which patients can avail treatment up to Rs 2 lakh, and as Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar stated on Sunday, a separate budgetary provision will be made. The state health department has also set up a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to investigate the sudden rise in this infection, Abitkar added.
60 beds reserved for GBS patients
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale inspected the civic body-run Kamla Nehru Hospital on Monday and instructed the authorities to reserve 60 beds for GBS patients there.
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Medical Superintendent Dr Prashant Bothe of Kamla Nehru Hospital said, “The PMC commissioner inspected the hospital and instructed to reserve 60 beds for GBS patients. We have reserved 15 beds in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 15 beds in male and female wards each. As of now, no patients of GBS have been admitted, but we are receiving inquiry calls regarding ICU admissions. We will be admitting GBS patients in the ICU only after consulting with the doctors where they were earlier being treated.”
“PMC has already been alerting and advising the public to follow precautionary measures and avoid eating outside food and water. We are also urging citizens to use boiled filtered water for cleansing fruits and vegetables,” added Bothe.
Earlier on Sunday, Pawar announced free treatment for GBS. “The treatment for GBS is very expensive. After discussions with officials from the district administration and municipal corporation, we have decided to provide free treatment to affected citizens. Those from Pimpri-Chinchwad will be treated at YCM Hospital, while patients from PMC areas will receive treatment at Kamla Nehru Hospital. For citizens from rural areas, free treatment will be provided at Sassoon Hospital in Pune.” “The injections used for treatment are priced around Rs 8,000, but private facilities charge nearly Rs 20,000. To address this, we made these decisions and will take additional measures,” he added.
Centre deploys 7-member team of experts
The Centre has deployed a seven-member team of experts in Maharashtra to assist the state in monitoring and managing the increasing cases of GBS, news agency PTI quoted an official source as saying.
GBS is a rare condition that causes sudden numbness and muscle weakness, with symptoms including severe weakness in the limbs and loose motions. Bacterial and viral infections generally lead to GBS as they weaken the immunity of patients, according to doctors.
While GBS is prevalent in both paediatric and young-age groups, it will not lead to an epidemic or pandemic, they said, adding that most patients recover fully with treatment.
