Monday, May 30 2005 20:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Two more deaths took place in the capital due to suspected Meningococcaemia even as the authorities claimed today (May 30, 2005) that the bacterial disease was on the wane.

The two deaths reported since yesterday (May 29, 2005) were in Safdarjung Hospital and Lok Nayak Hospital, MCD's Director of Hospital Administration J N Banavaliker told reporters in New Delhi today.

He said the disease, whose prevalence was first reported in the last week of April, was on its way out, with the number of cases reported daily constantly going down and only two new cases coming to the fore since yesterday.

"The number of cases reported daily had gone up to 37 on May 11 and hovered around the 30 mark for many days. But in the last nine days, it was down to six a day, and since yesterday, only two new cases have been reported," Banavaliker said.

The total number of deaths due to the bacterial infection now stands at 41 while the cumulative suspected cases of Meningococcaemia has gone up to 389, of which 58 were still in hospitals.

MCD Commissioner Rakesh Mehta, who also addressed the press briefing, said, "We have observed that despite the number of cases coming down, there is still some panic among the people. Hence, we want to make it very clear that the disease is on the wane."