Meningococcal meningitis continues to increase in the State with five other cases being detected at the region's premier institute, the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS). Earlier, the communicable disease was detected in 150 people. The Health Department has brought in two medical experts from the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD) to create awareness of the outbreak of the disease. NEIGRIHMS Department of General Medicine Dr Mihir Goswami today informed that the institute till Monday had received five meningitis cases. He said that the institute was equipped to treat the patients and was in close coordination with the State Health Department to address Meningococcal meningitis. Dr Goswami also said that the patients admitted to the institute for meningitis were from the city like Mawprem and Mawlai and others from the suburbs. Pointing out that the though the disease is communicable, Dr Goswami said the disease can be cured if detected early. He said, "If a person comes in contact with a meningitis patient for more than 24 hours, then the person needs to take preventive measures by taking antibiotics like Azithromycine or Ciprofloxin.'