THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE(SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)
(a) & (b) As per the information furnished by Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI),the
total number of cases reported due to meningitis in the country during the years 2006-2008 are
given below:
Year Number of Cases Number of deaths
2006 3438 312
2007 5067 311
2008 2547 142
(till date)
The number of cases of meningitis during the last three years does not show any definitive trend.
(c) to (f) World Health Organisation(WHO) recommends emergency immunization using polysaccharide
vaccines of group A and C or A,C,Y and W 135 to control outbreaks of meningococcal diseases.It also
recommends that the inclusion of conjugate group C vaccine in National Immunisation Programme
should be considered in the areas where group C meningococcal disease is a substantial public
health problem among young children.
There is no proposal under consideration for introduction of Meningitis vaccine in the Universal
Immunization Programme.
(g) It is primarily the responsibility of the State Government to prevent the disease through IEC
and to provide the required facilities including early diagnosis and prompt treatment.However,
National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) provides necessary technical support to States
to prevent and control meningococcal diseases.Efforts are made for contact tracking of the patients
and providing chemoprophylaxis.NICD also monitors the situation of disease in Delhi and the
surrounding areas and receives samples from hospitals.Under Integrated Disease Surveillance
Project,mechanism has been instituted to strengthen surveillance activities and promote early
detection of any outbreak for appropriate action to prevent and control communicable diseases
including meningitis.