Monday, May 9 2005 16:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Thirteen fresh suspected cases of Meningococcemia were reported in the capital since yesterday (May 8, 2005), taking the total number of persons affected to 187 even as Lt Governor B L Joshi convened a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation.

Joshi who reviewed the steps taken by the local administration expressed satisfaction at the handling of the situation and said all efforts should be made to prevent the disease from spreading further.

Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri who was present in the meeting said that 13 new suspected cases were reported from the capital since yesterday.

Giving stress on the cases being reported from outside Delhi, he said that the authorities must, instead of writing to the relatives of patients or advising them on telephone must ask the Chief Medical Officer of the concerned district to ensure that the relatives of the patients get prophylactic treatment.

Shastri said 14 cases of meningicoccemia were reported from outside the capital.

While 10 cases were from Uttar Pradesh and two from Gurgaon, one case each was reported from Bihar and Rajasthan.

Besides top medical officials, Commissioners of NDMC, MCD and officials of Army cantonment area also participated in the meeting.