As cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) rise in Maharashtra, Union Minister of State for Health, Prataprao Jadhav, has warned that restrictions may be imposed on fairs and festivals if the situation worsens.
He also mentioned that a meeting with relevant officials will be held soon regarding the situation. Pune has reported the highest number of GBS cases, and now the number of patients is rising across the state. In this context, the Union Health Ministry is working promptly, and the state health department has also made effective arrangements to tackle the disease, said Jadhav. If the disease is found to spread due to crowds or is contagious, restrictions on public gatherings, including fairs and festivals, will be considered.
Currently, 210 GBS cases have been reported in the state, with 41 patients in ICUs and 20 on ventilators. Pune has 136 reported cases, and the disease claimed its ninth victim on Monday in Wagholi, Pune district.
Ajit Pawar blames ‘undercooked chicken’, urged public to take precautions
Amid the rise of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar blames undercooked chicken as a possible cause and urged the public to take strict precautions but assured that poultry culling is not necessary.
“There is no need to cull the livestock in the poultry farm; it should only be consumed after ensuring it is fully cooked. Doctors have also informed us that consuming undercooked infected chicken can cause infections in humans, so it is important to cook it thoroughly before eating”, said Pawar on Saturday.
Health officials emphasize proper food hygiene to minimize risks. After consultations with the Divisional Commissioner and health authorities, no direct link between chicken consumption and GBS has been found.
Recent analysis by Pune’s health department revealed that Campylobacter Jejuni (C. Jejuni) bacteria is a major trigger for the outbreak, with 25 stool samples testing positive for it.
However, the state government is closely monitoring the situation and health officials are conducting further investigations to determine the cause of the outbreak.
