Tuesday, May 10 2005 20:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Three more deaths due to deadly meningococcemia have been reported in the national capital since yesterday (May 9, 2005) taking the toll to 17 while the disease has afflicted 27 more people, including a Delhi Government hospital nurse, raising the number of such patients to 214.

Two deaths reported from All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) were confirmed by MCD's Director of Health Administration J A Banvalikar while one patient succumbed to the disease in Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital.

One death from Ral Manohar Hospital which was earlier included in the deaths due to meningococcaemia, however, was taken out as it was found to have occurred due to some other ailment, Banvalikar said.

In the first case of hospital staff being infected by the disease in the current outbreak, a nurse from Hedgewar Hospital was reported to have caught up with the disease.

Out of the 27 fresh cases reported during last 24 hours three are from outside Delhi, he said.