By imposing fine to the tune of ₹1.25 lakh against schools, colleges and private factories for disobeying the directive on anti-dengue measures, Collector A. Sivagnanam has sent a strong message that any individual or institution, which failed to cooperate with the administration in the drive would be dealt with severely.
Some institutions including some top private schools and colleges had not taken preventive measures. As a result, these campuses had turned to be breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Many persons reported at hospitals with fever symptoms. Some of them were diagnosed with swine flu. So, the official machinery had begun operations to fight the menace.
While treatment was given in isolation wards in government hospitals across the district for patients with swine flu, a drive was on to check campuses and dwellings whether they had adhered to the guidelines.
Officials can fight diseases like dengue and swine flu only when people extended cooperation, they said.
The Collector said that 22 teams were formed to check meticulously seven municipalities, 11 panchayat unions and nine town panchayats among other areas. As many as 85 officials had been conducting checks since November 1 and scanned close to 190 locations so far.
Every day, report on inspections carried out and action taken was made which helped in containing the fever to a great extent, he added. Theatres and public parks were used to drive home the message, he said.
Tirunelveli
Collector Shilpa Prabhakar Satish said that the spread of dengue and swine flu this year has been limited compared to last year.
The Collector, who started various awareness and preventive measures against spread of the diseases at the new bus stand here on Saturday, said that the spread of the diseases had been checked by various preventive measures.
She distributed ‘nilavembu kudineer’ to the public, and oversaw workers spraying mosquito repellents in buses and created awareness of the importance of washing hands.
The initiative was organised by the Public Health and Preventive Medicine Department led by Director K. Kolandaswamy, and the Corporation.
Ms. Shilpa said that various activities like setting up of special camps, creating awareness using vehicles, and medical teams from various primary health care centres engaged to monitor the situation, were going on.
The public were advised to approach a doctor if symptoms of swine flu or dengue were seen and stay indoors.