Udupi: Deputy Commissioner G Jagadeesha said that the Health department should take all precautionary measures to check communicable diseases during monsoon.

The DC, addressing officials at the district-level meeting held at the DC office to review the steps taken, via video conference, warned that malaria, dengue and chikungunya will spread, if appropriate measures were not taken. As many as 11 malaria cases and 103 dengue cases had been reported in the district. He insisted on forming a task force to design the strategies to curb increasing dengue cases in rural areas.

He said measures should be taken to ensure that water was not stagnating in the areas where construction works were underway. Officials should visit the rural areas frequently to make sure that there is no spread of communicable diseases. Fish which feed on larvae should be released in artificial ponds dug due to the stone quarrying. The garbage should be effectively managed and colonies of migrant laborers should be monitored and ensured that the area is clean and hygienic. He said migrant laborers should be tested for the infection and precautions should be taken that they are not the carriers and spreaders of the virus infection. Open food joints should not be permitted and the harbors should be ensured for hygiene and sanitation, he added.

The officials should distribute mosquito nets among students at the hostels run by the Social Welfare and Backward Classes in the district. The Fisheries department should ensure that Guppi fish and Gambusia variety of fish are available for public.