Dengue scare: Schoolkids asked to wear full-sleeved clothes

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 26

With the increasing number of dengue cases in the district, the Additional Deputy Commissioner on Wednesday issued an advisory to all private and government schools, asking students to wear full-sleeved clothes against exposure to mosquitoes.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Shaukat Ahmed Pare has asked the District Education Officer to ensure that students come to the school wearing full-sleeved shirts, trousers and ‘salwar kameez’ for the next one month to avoid mosquito bites. The ADC announced the decision after a meeting with health officials.

While talking to The Tribune, Shaukat said, “The step has been taken to curb the increasing dengue cases since the dengue-causing mosquito aedes aegypti are active during the daytime.”

He also directed the school principals to ensure that premises were kept clean and there were no areas prone to mosquito breeding.

Patiala has recorded the highest number of dengue cases in Punjab so far. Of the total 1,192 such cases in the state, the district reported 464 cases this season. 

Dr Gurmeet, district epidemiologist, said, “While inspection, our health team found dengue larvae in many schools, including British Co-Ed School and Budha Dal Public School and several government schools. We have issued warning to the school authorities and issued 265 challans regarding the same.”