Brain fever: death toll rises to 18

New Delhi, Mar 18 (UNI) The toll due to brain fever in the national capital rose to 18 today with the death of one more person in a city hospital here in the past 24 hours.

''One more person died in the Safdarjung Hospital overnight due to Meningococcemia disease or brain fever,'' MCD Director (Health) K N Tewari told UNI.

The person hailed from Badarpur area on the Delhi-Faridabad border.

The Health Officer said the number of confirmed cases of Meningococcemia disease had also increased to 180.

''The number of confirmed cases till yesterday was 177 and three more cases were reported in the past 24 hours... the total number of cases since December 2005 now stands at 180 ,'' he added.

MCD sources the council is considering to announce an alert across the national capital if more case of Meningococcemia are reported over the next few days.

''The authorities don't want to take any chances and are considering the move,'' they added.

Dr Tewari said he said the prevailing climatic conditions were the main reason for the rising numbers.

He said the disease would subside in summer as extreme temperatures did not favour its incubation.

''The frequency of the diseases, caused by bacteria, is more because it has not been eradicated... The figure includes private, and government hospitals as well as nursing homes,'' he added.

Brain fever is characterised by fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea and severe rash on the limbs. The infection affects the membrane around the brain.

The MCD official said the numbers also include patients from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

''Our transit population is very vast... Delhi Health Services caters to people from Rajasthan, Haryana and even Uttaranchal besides the NCR region,'' he added.

Advising people to get immediate medical attention for the potentially fatal condition, Dr Tewari said people who come in close contact of an infected person were at risk of contracting the disease.

''People who live in close contact with the infected person must be careful particularly family members... and patients must be treated in early stages,'' he said, asking people to avoid over crowded places and dirty surroundings.

People must ensure proper ventilation and sanitation around then, he added.

Last year, around 214 brain fever cases were reported between April and June.

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