Authorities rule out meningitis epidemic in Surat

Surat, Mar 14 (UNI) Medical authorities of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) have ruled out the appearance of 'meningococcal meningitis' in some parts of the city as being epidemic in nature.

Talking to UNI today, Health Officer of SMC Hemant Desai explained that of the 20 suspected cases in two months, the authorities found only five of them were confirmed cases of meningococcal meningitis.

''Only one person died out of the five confirmed cases. We can not term the occurance of meningococcal meningitis cases as epidemic since the cases are from different parts of the city,'' added Desai.

Mr Desai said according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, if there were seven to eight cases of meningitis from a single area out of a total population of 1,00,000 people it is considered as an epidemic.

''In Surat, we have a population of 30,00,000 and all the five cases were reported over a period of two months'', said Desai.

Authorities are keeping a constant vigil and taking preventive measures to stop the spread of the disease.

''The treatment of meningococcal meningitis is simple, just give ciproflaxicin tablets to the affected but thrust is given to prevent the infection. The disease is air-borne and is uncontrllable if it affects the blood. Once infected, bacteria in the blood multiplies at a faster pace,'' Desai said.

Residential Medical Officer, Surat Medical Institute of Medical Education and Research, hospital owned by SMC, Dr Jayesh H Rana said that wrong reports are spreading about the disease.

Mr Rana told UNI that even though ''some deaths'' are reported due to the meningococcal meningitis, no epidemic character has been noticed so far.

Meanwhile, separate wards have been arranged in New Civil Hospital and SMIMER Hospital as a precaution.

UNI MS KU PR KN2253