Meningitis claims 17 lives in Tripura in one month

A total 17 people have died of meningitis in Tripura's Dhalai district since January 22, government said.

A total 17 people have died of meningitis in Tripura's Dhalai district since January 22, government said on Wednesday.

HT Image

Replying to a question in the Assembly, Health and Family Welfare Minister Tapan Chakraborty said the 17 deaths were reported from different villages in Longterai valley subdivision from January 22 to February 24 this year and the government has taken all precautionary measures to check it.

He said the state government wanted to undertake mass immunisation programme in the subdivision but the National Institute of Communicable Diseases has turned the proposal. It has asked the government to offer preventive tablets to the villagers living in and around the affected tribal hamlets, the minister said.

Opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath, however, claimed that at least 57 tribal villagers have died of meningitis in Manu and Chawmanu blocks and criticised the health minister for not being able to control the disease.