Wednesday, May 11 2005 18:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: One more person succumbed to deadly Meningococcemia in the Capital since yesterday (May 11, 2005) taking the toll to 18 while the suspected cases touched the 250 mark.

The bacterial outbreak showed no signs of abating with 36 new cases being reported from various hospitals taking the total number of infected people to 250, even as health officials claimed to be well equipped to handle the situation.

The latest death, of a 95-year old lady, occurred in the All India Institute of Medical Science, MCD's Director of Hospital Administration Dr J N Banavaliker told reporters.

Most of the people who died of the disease had come to the hospitals at later stages of the disease, he said.

Banavaliker, however, said that the disease had not attained epidemic, as the number of confirmed cases have not reached that proportion.

Out of 118 samples sent to NICD for testing only nine have been confirmed for the disease, he said.

A nurse, who had contracted the disease while looking after such cases, was also under treatment at Hedgewar Hospital, he said.

Medical Staff who come in close contact with the patients afflicted with Meningococcemia have already been vaccinated against the disease, he said.