Friday, May 13 2005 08:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The bacterial outbreak that has killed 20 people in Delhi so far, shows no sign of dying down even as National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD) yesterday (May 12, 2005) confirmed 143 samples to be positive for the brain fever.

Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri along with health officials yesterday visited Hindu Rao Hospital to take stock of the situation and said, "There is absolutely no need to panic as we have adequate drugs and vaccines to handle the situation."

NICD, the nodal centre for sample collection, has confirmed 143 samples sent there for testing as "confirmed" cases of meningococcaemia, an official release said quoting Shastri.

The Minister appealed to the general public not to panic and consult a qualified doctor in case of symptoms such as fever, severe headache and red spots on the skin.

Out of 260 patients admitted in various hospitals about 50 are from outside Delhi. As many as 91 people have been discharged after being treated for the disease.

With two more deaths were reported since last night the toll has gone up to 20 whereas the deadly disease has afflicted at least 260 people, MCD's Director of Hospital Administration Dr J N Banavaliker said.

He, however, said the outbreak has not yet reached such proportions to be termed as epidemic.

"According to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, there should be 15 confirmed cases per one lakh population before we call it an epidemic. The number was far less and downfall of the outbreak has already started," Banavaliker said.

Attributing the rise in the number of cases this year to "unusual", he said "comparative low temperature in the month of May this year also contributed in enhancing viability of the bacteria".

In 2002 there were 397 suspected meningococcaemia cases with 50 deaths while 325 cases and 48 deaths were reported in 2003. But the cases, unlike this year, were evenly distributed throughout the year, he said.

The Minister expressed satisfaction over the measures taken by the hospital administration to handle the situation, the release added.