Thursday, May 5 2005 10:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Centre yesterday (May 4, 2005) asked hospitals and private practitioners in New Delhi to notify suspected cases of the bacterial meningococcal disease to the Medical Officer, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, an official release in New Delhi read.

The disease claimed nine lives and affected 51 in the city since March 29, it added.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed meningococal disease in five samples out of the 11 recently tested cases.

The Centre has set up a control room at the NICD to receive clinical samples round-the-clock, an official release said.

The Centre has provided the guidelines for prevention of disease transmission including chemoprophylaxix to the State health authorities in consultation with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

However, the Centre claimed there was no need to panic since the disease is amenable to antibiotic treatment and the hospitals are fully equipped to treat it.