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| Dengue danger: Food & Environmental Hygiene Department staff will spray larvicidal oil around schools to help prevent Dengue fever. |
Measures against Dengue fever are being stepped up in schools.
The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct inspections in nearly 80 schools within a week. Staff will examine the schools' environment, give advice to school staff, and spray larvicidal oil as a precautionary measure wherever necessary.
The inspections follow the first local case of Dengue fever earlier this month, and ovitrap readings showing that the mosquito vector remains prevalent.
In addition to enhanced precautions and vigilance, these schools have already installed or are making arrangements to install wire-mesh on windows and mosquito traps or repellents.
Keeping schools on alert
The Education & Manpower Bureau appealed to school staff and students to maintain their guard against the illness.
To raise awareness of the importance of mosquito prevention, the bureau early this year launched a year-round programme tailored to the needs of schools, teachers and students.
It has organised talks on anti-mosquito measures in schools, produced teaching resources on healthy living and mosquito prevention.
The bureau also advised schools to set up anti-mosquito patrol teams to inspect the environment at least once a week and ensure that the school premises is clean and free of mosquito breeding grounds.
Preventing mosquito breeding
The precautionary measures against mosquito breeding being recommended include:
* keeping all drains free from blockage;
* covering tightly all water containers, wells and water storage tanks;
* filling in potholes to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water;
* putting all used cans and bottles into covered dustbins;
* changing water for plants at least once a week, leaving no water in the saucers underneath flowerpots;
* installing mosquito screens, nets and traps where appropriate;
* installing wire-mesh windows where necessary (such as in classrooms facing slopes with shrubs); and,
* advising school staff and students to apply insect repellent to exposed parts of the body and to wear long clothes when outdoors.
If mosquito breeding is found at schools, staff should call the department on 2868 0000.
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