Schools closed for dengue control in Dharan

KATHMANDU: All educational institutions operational in the Dharan Sub-Metropolitan of Sunsari have been closed for an effective campaign against the dengue outbreak. The executive committee meeting held on Tuesday took the decision to engage in collective efforts for prevention and control of the contagion.

Dharan Sub-Metropolitan mayor Harka Raj Sampang informed that the decision was made to run a dengue control campaign by pausing teaching and learning activities in the schools.

The Sub-Metropolitan has called for the teachers and students of the schools to get engaged in the dengue control campaign during holidays.

The meeting also urged the social organizations, Tole development organizations and local communities besides teachers and students to engage in the campaign in their wards.

Chief Administrative Officer of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan, Matrika Bhattarai said schools were shut down to effectively run a campaign of search and destroy larva of mosquito (Aedes aegupti) against dengue.

Likewise, Dharan-15 chairperson Naresh Kumar Iwaram said the decision to widely mobilize the general public was made with an understanding that the dengue outbreak would not be contained until and unless larva and eggs of dengue-transmitting mosquitoes are destroyed.

Dengue virus has taken lives of eight people, including a girl child in Dharan since June first week onward.

Lately, it has been difficult for dengue-infected patients to get beds in health facilities, including private clinics and BP Koirala Institute for Health Sciences with the rise in cases.

Chief of Sub-Metropolitan health section, Umesh Mehata informed that 2,495 out of 4,218 examined had tested positive for dengue. The number is on the rise, he said.