MCD to launch awareness campaign against meningococcemia

New Delhi, Feb 13 (UNI) With eight deaths and 48 cases of meningococcemia been reported so far this year in the national capital, the authorities today decided to launch an awareness campaign to check the spread of the bacterial infection.

The MCD's Standing Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Vijender Gupta, also directed Health officials to prepare a plan on tackling the disease over the next three months.

However, MCD Health Officer N K Yadav said there was no need to panic and the number of case reported this year was lesser than the corresponding period last year.

''The situation is not serious... but we need to take precautions,'' Dr Yadav added.

During January and February last year, ten deaths and 90 cases were reported.

The Standing Committee has sought a report from the MCD Health officials on the submission of the plan.

The symptoms of the disease include fever, severe headache, stiff neck and nausea. The disease is expressed as either meningococcal meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and the spinal cord, or meningococcemia, the presence of bacteria in blood.

The MCD so far has not been able to identify the whether all the reported cases are from Delhi or outside.

UNI NR MSJ KN1841