Mumbai reports first GBS case in 2025; BMC confirms 64-year-old woman tests positive

GBS is a rare condition in which a person's immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, resulting in muscle weakness, loss of sensation in the legs and/or arms, as well as problems swallowing or breathing

Mumbai reported first case of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in 2025 on Friday after a 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with the rare nerve disorder, civic officials said. 

GBS is a rare condition in which a person's immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, resulting in muscle weakness, loss of sensation in the legs and/or arms, as well as problems swallowing or breathing.

Talking to PTI, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani stated that the patient was undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a civic-run hospital.

According to PTI, civic officials said the Andheri (East) resident was hospitalised with a history of fever and diarrhoea that was followed by ascending paralysis.

Further details about the patient are awaited.

In severe cases, GBS patients can develop near-total paralysis. The prevalence of this disorder is more common among adults and in males, though people of all ages can be affected.

GBS outbreak: Deaths in Pune surge to six

Meanwhile, the total number of suspected GBS deaths in Maharashtra's Pune district stood at six after a 63-year-old man died on Wednesday. The total suspected cases stand at 173, PTI reported.

The patient who died on Wednesday was admitted to a hospital in the Sinhgad Road area of Pune after he complained of fever, loose motions and weakness in the lower limb and was diagnosed with GBS, an official said on Thursday.

"His condition deteriorated on Wednesday and he died of acute ischemic stroke," the Pune Municipal Corporation health official said, adding that of the six deaths, five are suspected GBS deaths, while one is a confirmed fatality from the rare nerve disorder.

With the detection of three new cases, the number of suspected GBS cases in Pune rose to 173, a Maharashtra health department release said.

"Of these, 140 have been diagnosed with GBS. Of the 173, a total of 34 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation limits, 87 from newly added villages in PMC area, 22 from Pimpri Chinchwad civic limits, 22 from rural parts of the district, and eight from other districts," the release said.

Of the 173 patients, 72 have been discharged, 55 are in ICU and 21 are on ventilator support, the release added.

GBS outbreak: WHO team works with Pune civic body on rising cases 

The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting health authorities in Maharashtra to respond to suspected and confirmed cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in Pune. Chetan Khade, the surveillance medical officer of WHO, Pune had earlier told mid-day, “The WHO teams are on the ground training the health workforce in conducting ‘active case searches’ in the community to ensure every suspected case is identified, diagnosed and treated.”

The officials added that they worked closely with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and state and district authorities to trace and test suspected cases and follow up on confirmed cases. Last week, the team visited the affected areas to examine the situation.

The WHO officials added that GBS is a rare condition, the cause for which is not fully understood. The municipal corporations are promoting public health interventions, food and hand hygiene, and safe water for disease management. There’s no cure for GBS, but treatments can speed recovery and reduce symptoms.

(With PTI inputs)

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