Chennai, 4 other districts identified as fever prone areas

Besides Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Dharmapuri and Tirunelveli have been identified as districts prone to spreading dengue.

School Education Director S Kannappan told DT Next that clustering of fever cases, including dengue, has been noticed at schools in these districts. “Moreover, on inspection by entomologists, aedes mosquito breeding sources were found in cement tanks, buckets, water drums in toilets, tanks, broken containers, construction sites and scraps near the schools,” he said.

He added that chief educational officers of the districts have been asked to instruct all headmasters to ensure that there were no breeding sources in and around their institutions.

“In addition, block-level officials with the support of local bodies and public health field staff should ensure that there are no aedes mosquito breeding in and around the schools,” he said.

Stating that the block development officers were also instructed to ensure the safety of students by giving proper instruction to the management of the institutions, the official said that officials have been asked to report all fever cases.

A senior official said that students will be given Nilavembu Kashayam with the support of health officials. “Officials have also been asked to clean terraces and ensure that there is no water stagnation,” he said.