Guillain-Barré Syndrome In Pune: Why Drinking Boiled Water Isn’t Enough – Brush, Wash Salads, And Fruits With Clean Filtered Water To Stay Safe As GBS Spreads

As Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder, continues to create havoc in Pune and has spread to other parts of Maharashtra like Kolhapur, Solapur, and Nagpur, it is crucial to follow the advisory issued by the Public Health Department regarding water.

The advisory urges citizens to maintain good water quality by drinking boiled water, ensuring food is fresh and clean, and avoiding mixing cooked and uncooked food items to prevent infections.

However, the advisory misses some important points related to the spread of waterborne diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during a boiled drinking water advisory, it is important not to drink or use water from appliances connected to the water line, such as water and ice dispensers in refrigerators or freezers.

Precautions while bathing

When bathing or showering, individuals should be cautious not to swallow any water. Special care should be taken when bathing babies and young children, and sponge baths are recommended to minimise the risk of water ingestion.

For brushing teeth, it is advised to use boiled water or commercially bottled water. Tap water that has not been boiled should be avoided.

Thus, in all, cooled, boiled water or bottled water should be used for drinking, brushing teeth, preparing and cooking food, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing infant formula, making ice, washing dishes by hand, and giving water to pets. These additional precautions are essential to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases, especially in areas affected by GBS.

11 cases in Pune

According to the state public health department release issued late on Monday night, there are 110 suspected patients of GBS and one death has been reported until now. Of these, eight have been diagnosed as confirmed GBS cases. Of the 110 suspected patients, about 88 are from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), 15 from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and seven are from other districts. Out of this, 73 are men and 37 are women while 13 out of these are currently on ventilator. Nine patients suspected of suffering from GBS were reported on Monday (January 27), of these, seven were from PMC, one from PCMC & one from other district. A Pune-based Chartered Accountant from DSK Vishwa area in Dhayari died.

GBS is a rare condition that causes sudden numbness and muscle weakness. Symptoms include severe weakness in the limbs and loose motions. According to doctors, bacterial and viral infections generally cause GBS because they weaken patients' immunity.

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 treatmen