Dengue larvae: Six schools in city get show-cause notice

Sukhwinder Pal Sodhi

Chandigarh, November 14

Dengue threat looms large over schools in the city. The anti-malaria wing of the Health Department issued show-cause notices to six schools and a private college after finding dengue larvae in these institutions premises. The Health Department also issued an advisory to schools to take precautionary steps and trained 160 science teachers to spread awareness on dengue. 

Sources said the Health Department started a drive in August to inspect all city schools and colleges for prevention of dengue. The anti-malaria wing found dengue larvae on the premises of four government and two private schools, besides a private college. These institutions include Government Model High School, Sector 25, Government Model High School, Sector 35, Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 33, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 31, Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 10, Government Senior Secondary School for Girls (GSSSG), Sector 18, and MCM DAV College for Women, Sector 36. 

Some other schools were also found short of basic hygienic conditions, including stagnant water on the premises and uncovered water tanks. 

One student of GSSSG, Sector 18, was infected with dengue, the sources added. A team of the Health Department went to her house, but did not find any dengue larvae. The team went to her school on November 2 and found dengue larvae in water cooler of a hostel. The team then issued a show-cause notice to the GSSSG, Sector 18. 

Last year, 1,594 dengue cases were reported till October 31. This year, only 205 persons tested positive for dengue out of which 115 cases were reported in October. The main reason for decline of dengue cases is training imparted to school teachers to spread awareness on the disease. 

Fogging in schools 

Assistant Director (Malaria), Dr Upenderjeet Singh Gill, confirmed that the Health Department had issued a show cause notice to GSSSG, Sector 18, recently. Earlier, five schools and a college were issued notices some time ago, he added. The anti-malaria wing had done fogging in 230 schools, colleges and sprayed larvacide in 12 schools, he said. Besides 40,000 cards were distributed in schools, he added. Although weather had changed, precautions need to be taken for another week, he added. The Health Department also issued advisory to schools to install two All Outs in every classroom and instruct students to bring Odomos in their school bags.