Pune's Guillain-Barré Syndrome Cases Cause Traveler Concerns

India's western state of Maharashtra is responding to a significant and unexpected number of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in the city of Pune. 

ANI reported on February 1, 2025, the Maharashtra Health Department announced, "As of now, 149 suspected cases of GBS have been identified, with five suspected deaths. Among the affected individuals, 28 are currently on ventilator support."

In Pune, a city of about 7 million residents that welcomes over 9 million visitors annually, the Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched a series of proactive measures to tackle the recent rise in GBS cases and implemented crucial decisions to provide timely medical support and financial assistance to affected citizens.

These PMC measures include recognizing the critical role of timely treatment of Immunoglobulin injections, which are free of charge to patients at government and private hospitals.

According to the World Health Organization statement published on January 31, 2025, 'GBS is a rare neurological disorder, the cause for which is not fully understood. Furthermore, there's no cure for GBS or preventive vaccine.'

Clinically, GBS manifests itself with progressive muscle weakness associated with decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes and mild to severe sensory signs and symptoms.

In the United States, 3,000 to 6,000 people develop GBS annually.

In 2025, the U.S. FDA required certain Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine manufacturers to include a new warning about the risk for GBS following administration. 

As of February 2025, the U.S. CDC has not issued a Travel Health Advisory focused on India's GBS outbreak.

However, the CDC included India in its Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika travel alerts. The CDC suggests visitors to India speak with a travel vaccine expert about Chikungunya immunization options.

Currently, there are no GBS preventive vaccines available.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of State says it has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in rural areas of India, which stretch from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana to western West Bengal.

If you travel to India, the State Department suggests enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive digital alerts and make locating you in an emergency easier.