Himalayan News Service

New Delhi, May 6:

The worst meningitis outbreak in the Indian capital in two decades has killed 15 people and affected 112 people, with 21 new cases being reported today.

“Till today 112 cases have been reported, of which 21 are new. The death toll so far is 15,” an official told this daily.

The central health ministry is hopeful the meningitis outbreak in Delhi would soon be brought under control because the strain responsible — meningococcal meningitis — is very sensitive to antibiotics.

“Though a highly morbid disease, it is normally very sensitive to antibiotics. The deaths may have occurred due to the cases having come to the hospitals very late,” a health ministry official said. “Efforts for containing the disease are on a war footing. It may take a couple more days,” he said. “The outbreak this time does not qualify as an epidemic. There is no cause for alarm as the numbers are not large and awareness campaigns are helping to contain the spread of the disease,” the health ministry official said.

The Delhi government said so far 90 fresh cases had been reported from various parts of the city. “Stray cases may be coming from neighbouring states but so far there is no report of an outbreak in any other state,” the health ministry official said.

Earlier today, Lok Sabha members expressed concern over the spread of the disease.

Members belonging to the Samajwadi Party (SP), Janata Dal-Secular and Left parties were on their feet shouting for a response from the government on what they described as a health emergency. Defence Minister and Leader of House Pranab Mukherjee assured the house that the government would respond immediately.