Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department Anoop K Srivastava said today that nine people had died of meningococcal meningitis and some patients had been admitted to hospitals till January 19.
The cases of meningococcal meningitis were mostly reported from slum areas like Jhalupara, some parts of Mawlai, Lumparing and Nongmynsong in East Khasi Hills and from slum areas in Garo Hills.
Srivastava said the problem was not alarming and people should not panic. Srivastava said meningococcal meningitis was curable and the state had adequate medicines.
He admitted the disease might spread in congested places like slum areas.
An immunization and sanitization programme in the affected areas was likely to be taken up in the coming week.
Officials of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) led by Joint Directors Jagdir Singh and S Gupta, had visited several hospitals and collected data on patients and also met state health officials to take stock of the situation.
The state government was awaiting its report and recommendations for measures to tackle the air-borne disease. Shillong , Jan 22 : Nine people have died of meningococcal meningitis so far this month in Meghalaya and the disease was reported to be spreading.
Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department Anoop K Srivastava said today that nine people had died of meningococcal meningitis and some patients had been admitted to hospitals till January 19.
The cases of meningococcal meningitis were mostly reported from slum areas like Jhalupara, some parts of Mawlai, Lumparing and Nongmynsong in East Khasi Hills and from slum areas in Garo Hills.
Srivastava said the problem was not alarming and people should not panic. Srivastava said meningococcal meningitis was curable and the state had adequate medicines.
He admitted the disease might spread in congested places like slum areas.
An immunization and sanitization programme in the affected areas was likely to be taken up in the coming week.
Officials of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) led by Joint Directors Jagdir Singh and S Gupta, had visited several hospitals and collected data on patients and also met state health officials to take stock of the situation.
The state government was awaiting its report and recommendations for measures to tackle the air-borne disease.
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