The number of suspected Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in Pune district has now reached 214 after two new cases were reported on Saturday. The district has recorded 11 deaths among GBS patients, with four of them officially confirmed to be caused by the infection, according to Dr. Babita Kamlapurkar, the joint director of health services.
Current Status of Patients
Since the outbreak, 153 patients have been treated and discharged from hospitals. However, 32 patients remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 18 are on ventilator support, as per state health officials.
PCMC Reopens Private RO Plants
As a precautionary measure following the GBS outbreak, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) had sealed 58 private reverse osmosis (RO) water plants earlier this month. However, civic authorities have now decided to reopen these plants, said officials.
Water samples from 11 different sources, including one private RO plant, were found to be contaminated. This led to the initial closure of the plants to prevent further health risks.
Strict Guidelines for RO Plant Owners
Pramod Ombhase, the chief engineer of the PCMC water supply department, emphasized the importance of following safety protocols before reopening.
“RO plant owners must strictly follow the conditions set by the municipal corporation and obtain official approval before continuing operations,” Ombhase stated.
The reopening of the RO plants comes as the civic body continues to investigate possible sources of contamination and ensure the safety of drinking water for residents.
