As the number of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases continues to rise in Maharashtra, two individuals from the Belagavi district, who were neighboring, are believed to have succumbed to the disease. The victims have been identified as Balagouda Patil from Donewadi village in Nipani taluk and a 14-year-old boy from Hukkeri taluk. However, the health authorities in Karnataka have yet to confirm the deaths, with reports stating that the boy passed away four days ago.
Sangli and Kolhapur districts, bordering Belagavi, have recorded a total of 31 GBS cases and five deaths. More than 10 of the affected individuals are being treated in intensive care units (ICUs). Sangli has reported 16 GBS cases and two deaths, while Kolhapur has registered 21 cases and three deaths.
In a separate incident, a 64-year-old farmer from Belagavi’s Nippani, Yetil Balagonda Patil, died in Kolhapur’s Tripti Pramilaraje Hospital on Monday, after being admitted a week ago. State health officials have said that the death is not yet confirmed as a GBS case and cannot be linked to the current outbreak in Pune.
Patil reportedly developed pain and tingling in his limbs on February 7, followed by paralysis on the right side of his body. However, he did not exhibit respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms, which are often associated with GBS. Health officials noted that this case does not match the typical characteristics of GBS, which has a rapid progression and high mortality rate in the current Pune outbreak.
Officials also clarified that Patil was not among the 110 pilgrims from Yellapur and Haliyal taluks in Uttara Kannada, who recently returned from Pandharpur, Maharashtra, where suspected GBS cases have been reported. Surveillance has been heightened in these areas due to an outbreak of acute diarrheal disease (ADD), and the pilgrims had used water from a common overhead tank in a community hall where suspected cases were detected.
