Monday, May 23 2005 20:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Three more deaths reported due to suspected meningococcaemia since the last 24 hours taking the toll to 36 even as three new probable cases were admitted in various hospitals in New Delhi.

Two of the three deaths occurred at Safdarjung Hospital while one patient died at Deen Dayal Upadhayay hospital in the capital since yesterday (May 22, 2005), a MCD release said here today (May 23).

With these, the death toll has risen to 36 and the total number of people suspected to be infected by the bacteria causing meningococcemia has risen to 357, it said.

The disease is showing no sign of abating even as the health officials had said that it would die down with rise in temperature.

Seventy-three people are still undergoing treatment for the disease in various hospitals in the capital whereas 248 people have been discharged, the release added.