NEW DELHI: The Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday to protest against the Government's handling of the meningitis outbreak even as Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said the disease was on the wane. He allayed fears of medicine and vaccine shortage, and said there was no need for everyone to get vaccinated in a panic.

Raising the issue after question hour, Ramji Lal Suman (SP) said the disease had spread from the capital to adjoining States. Accusing the Government of being callous about the "alarming" situation, he wanted to know whether a contingency plan had been drawn up.

With members from all parties expressing concern, Dr. Ramadoss said the Government was seized of the situation and there was no epidemic. So far 214 cases and 16 deaths were reported. There was only one death over the past four days.

He compared the toll to the last outbreak of meningitis two decades ago when 800 people died. Cost-effective antibiotics were available in abundance in the market and were being supplied free in government hospitals. Referring to Mr. Suman's comment on the rush for vaccinations, the Minister said only those in direct contact with affected persons needed vaccination.

However, unhappy with the Minister's response, Mr. Suman led party members and those from the RLD out of the House even as the Speaker allowed two "doctor MPs" to speak on the issue.

M. Jagannath of the Telugu Desam Party and Ram Chandra Dome of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said even one death was a matter of concern, a point the Minister accepted.

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