Schools have reopened after Durga Puja vacation this week and many students across campuses are attending classes in full-sleeve shirts or stockings, said teachers.
Since fresh dengue cases are still being reported, schools are encouraging children to cover their limbs for protection.
The staff are being instructed to increase vigil so that there is no water accumulation on the campus.
“In junior classes, many parents are sending them fully covered and, even in the senior section, some children are doing so,” said Anil Jha, senior academic coordinator, The Heritage School.
The scene is similar in schools like South Point and South City International.
In most schools, dengue awareness notices were issued before the Puja break. Given that the disease continues to lurk, the norms are still being adhered to.
Some schools also plan to reissue the notice.
“Usually, we have standing instructions for our staff to see that water does not accumulate in any place on the campus. We have told our supervisors to be extra cautious and check on any water accumulation,” said Amita Prasad, director, Indus Valley World School.
The dengue virus is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito which can lay eggs even in a spoonful of water. Adult mosquitoes emerge a week after eggs are laid if the water remains undisturbed.
Public health experts urge people to drain out stagnant water.
“One in 20 cases that I am seeing is that of dengue. Children should wear fully covered clothes and can use mosquito patches on their clothes,” said Apurba Ghosh, director, Institute of Child Health.
Ghosh said that in case any construction work was underway on the campus, the school authorities should take extra precautions to see there was no water accumulation.
In playgrounds too the grass bed should be drained of water, he added.
There are schools where after a bout of rain puddles are created just outside the gates and sometimes children have to wait there for their cars or buses.
“Parents had written to us asking if girls could wear leggings too with their skirts. We have allowed that. After the schools reopened this week teachers are speaking to children in every classroom. We are also asking children to use mosquito nets at home,” said Rodney Borneo, principal, St Augustine’s Day School, Shyamnagar.
