Health Minister Veena George said that extreme caution should be taken against dengue fever in the state. "The effort is to avoid deaths. All the districts have been instructed to strengthen the defense operations. Inspections should be increased."

"In order to reduce the death to a minimum, various departments should coordinate and carry out strong activities. Medicines, test kits and safety equipment should be ensured. Ensure that field-level operations are robust.", the minister said.

The minister also said that a monitoring cell will be set up to coordinate the activities. In the meeting which lasted for three hours, the situation and activities of all the districts were discussed separately.

"Training should be ensured for employees. Support of private hospitals will be ensured. Discussions will be held with IMA and IAP. District level reviews should be done properly and action should be taken. In the coming weeks, dry day activities should be intensified on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A dry day should be observed such as schools on Friday, offices on Saturday and homes on Sunday. Vector control activities should be strengthened. Health workers should adopt protective measures including masks."

"Care must be taken not to spread the disease from the hospital. Mosquito nets should be used in hospitals. Ensure that isolation wards are used. Hospitals should be more equipped. All hospitals should set up doxy corners for dispensing doxycycline tablets for rabies prevention. Critical care management facilities should be ensured. Activities should be carried out in collaboration with local body representatives. Vacant posts should be filled in full", the minister added. The minister also directed to strengthen the ward-level sanitation committee.

"Masks are recommended for the elderly, pregnant women, and those with other serious illnesses for influenza prevention. Children with fever should not be sent to school. Special attention should be paid to rat fever. Those who come into contact with soil, sludge and sewage should take the anti-rabies pill doxycycline as directed by health workers. Hospitals are provided with treatment protocol and SOP. Health workers should be assured of safety equipment for preventive measures. Source destruction should be strengthened in collaboration with local institutions to prevent the spread of dengue fever."

"Sanitation activities should also be strengthened in hospitals. Care should be taken to ensure that the tires of boats that are stopped due to the ban on trolling are not waterlogged. Garden areas should also be given special attention. By cleaning the house and surroundings once a week, the density of mosquitoes can be reduced and rainy season diseases like dengue fever and rat fever can be reduced," the minister said.

NHM State Mission Director, Health Department Director, Medical Education Department Director, Health Department Additional Directors, State Medical Board Members, KMSCL General Manager, District Medical Officers, District Program Managers, Medical College Principals, Superintendents and Superintendents of major hospitals were present in the meeting.