Dengue defence: Full shirts, pants

The outbreak of dengue is set to introduce winter dressing in city schools though the chill is yet to set in. The Delhi government has advised schools to introduce winter uniforms as a shield against dengue.

The outbreak of dengue is set to introduce winter dressing in city schools though the chill is yet to set in.

Strange as it may sound, but the Delhi government has advised schools to introduce winter uniforms as a shield against dengue, as the vector mosquitoes are known to bite only during the daytime.

The decision was taken after a meeting convened by Education Minister Aravinder Singh Lovely on Tuesday, a day on which schools reopened after the autumn vacation.

“All government, government-aided and public schools have been issued this order, which should be implemented by Thursday,” Lovely told HT. Therefore, students will be dressed in formal full sleeve shirts, pants and ties.

“Even girls will be wearing trousers and not skirts,"said Gauri Ishwaran, principal, Sanskrit Public School. Schools are only happy to comply. “If winter uniforms ensure some safety, so be it,” said Ishwaran.

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How can you help  Ensure water coolers in your locality are dried out Request neighbours and friends to wear full sleeve clothes during the day Start a campaign in your locality to keep an eye on stagnant water in pots, trays, vases and jars Put up posters urging people to use mosquito repellents and coils during the day Organise street meetings, plays in your locality to create awareness

But most big schools have already initiated precautionary measures of their own.“We have been spraying disinfectants not only in classrooms but in the school buses as well,” said Anita Vattal, principal, Springdales, Pusa Road.

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The MCD’s mosquito-repellant fumes seemed to be popular as most schools have already fumigated their premises.

A watch is also being kept on students who are absent in case they are found to be suffering from dengue.