Rare GBS Detected in Panvel; Civic Body Launches Survey After 40-Year-Old, 71-Year-Old Diagnosed.

Panvel/Navi Mumbai:-

What Happened.

The Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has launched an awareness drive and started water testing after two confirmed cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) were reported from Aadhar Multispecialty Hospital, Panvel in the last fortnight.

Both patients are from Takka village:

40-year-old male  Resident of Chowk, Khalapur taluka, but came from Vichumbe village. Discharged after treatment on June 15.

71-year-old female – From Konkan region, currently undergoing treatment. She had a travel history of Chardham Yatra.

 PCMC Action.

PCMC medical officer Dr Anand Gosavi confirmed the cases and said: “Surveys have been started after learning about the two confirmed GBS cases. Water samples from the suspected areas where the patients stayed have been taken for testing.”

He added: “There is nothing to panic about as the patients were not from our area.”_Health teams are conducting door-to-door monitoring in suspected zones.

What is GBS?

Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a rare and serious autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks peripheral nerves. It often follows a viral or bacterial infection from “consuming contaminated water, eating outside food, among others”.

Symptoms: Sudden weakness or paralysis in hands/legs, tingling, numbness, difficulty walking. It can affect the brain and, in severe cases, require ventilator support.

Official Advisory.

Dr Gosavi advised: “People should take precautions and consume boiled water, avoid eating outside food, eat properly boiled and warm food, among others. Adequate measures are being taken.”

NMMC earlier issued similar guidance: drink boiled/filtered water, maintain hygiene, avoid raw or undercooked poultry/meat, and keep water storage tanks covered.

 Background.

Maharashtra has seen a spike in GBS cases since early 2025, with Pune district reporting 170 suspected and 132 confirmed cases earlier this year. Health officials link many cases to contaminated water sources, including private wells and RO plants found “unfit for human consumption”.

 Panvel has reported its first two GBS cases in June. While officials say there’s no need to panibc, water testing and public awareness drives are underway. Residents are urged to drink only boiled water and avoid outside food.