In the wake of rising cases of dengue across Karnataka, the department of school education and literacy has advised schools to take necessary measures for prevention.

In 2024, so far 17,227 cases of dengue have been reported. Of these, 25% are aged between 6 to 16 years.

A circular issued by the state in this regard has instructed schools to act proactively to ensure that children do not fall prey to dengue, Chikungunya and Zika virus. In case children show signs of the same, schools must respond appropriately.

Since the incidence of dengue is higher during monsoon and post rains, immediate medical attention must be sought if anyone is symptomatic, schools have been advised.

“Aedes mosquitoes mostly bite in the morning hours. Since students, teachers and supportive staff spend most of the morning time in school, they should take care to ensure that they are not bitten,” the guidelines suggest.

The symptoms have also been enlisted by the department. Children could have fever for three days. Following this, there could be an onset of symptoms such as vomiting, headache, stomachache, tiredness, dizziness.

Schools must check drinking water sources, any water storage left open in the kitchen, drain area where plates are washed, bathrooms, water storage units such as cement tanks or Syntex tanks without lids, barrels, buckets, garden, plates kept under pots, decorative items, bird baths, waterlogged school campus or terrace of buildings. This would ensure prevention of mosquito breeding.

Guidelines

• Wear full-length clothes (those which have full sleeves and full-length pants).  
• Apply mosquito repellents before coming to school.  
• Put out a notice on dos and don’ts in case of dengue.
• Ensure that all portable water is stored in containers with lids. Ensure that they are washed at least once a week.
• Ensure that dry waste is stored in a manner that it does not collect rainwater and ensure that it is disposed of at the earliest.
• Ensure that there is no water logging on the school terrace.
• Spread awareness via talks on dengue during the morning assembly sessions.
• Create awareness among parents through WhatsApp groups or other parent platforms.
• Coordinate with local resource persons or School Development Monitoring Committees to ensure access to mosquito repellents on an immediate basis.
• Ensure that no waste is dumped in open spaces or plots near schools and seek local bodies’ intervention if need be to prevent this. 

Also read: Preventing mosquito-borne ailments