With more cases of monsoon-related epidemics including dengue fever reported from the eastern areas in the district, the health department and district administration authorities have decided to intensify the preventive drive in the Muvattupuzha and Kothamangalam taluks.
Special training programmes and awareness classes on vector control and sanitation practices are being planned as part of the drive.
According to health department authorities, the eastern parts of the district are highly vulnerable to vector-borne diseases.
Mosquito-borne diseases are spreading in the areas near the plantations due to the presence of stagnant water in pineapple farms and in the shells used to collect latex in rubber plantations.
The health department is providing training to its workers in the use of fogging machines that will be used in every ward in the local bodies.
“Fogging will start on Saturday for mosquito eradication in the plantations. Fogging machines have been made available in every panchayat,” said P.N. Srinivasan, rural health officer.
The focus of the monsoon related, epidemic prevention programme is on ‘source eradication’ (Uravida Nirmaarjana Paripadi) which aims at eliminating the breeding of mosquito larvae from possible sources.
Awareness programmes are being conducted in every house and also at schools. Special medical camps have been organised over the past two months for migrant labourers working in plantations.