NEW DELHI, May 15: At least 22 people have died from an outbreak of rare bacterial meningitis in the Indian capital in the past three weeks, an official said on Sunday. The number of infections reported in and around New Delhi since late April rose to 297 with the addition of 19 new cases late on Saturday, said a municipal health office spokesman, who declined to be named.

Last week, Indian Health Minister A. Ramadoss said there was no threat of a meningitis and meningococcemia epidemic as he assured lawmakers in parliament efforts were under way to check further spread of the illness.

The bacteria which causes the disease infects the fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. It is spread by direct contact with droplets from the nose and mouth of infected people.

Parents have been seeking vaccinations for their children in large numbers and had stopped sending their children to schools since the outbreak of the disease.—AFP