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Disease prevention training for port officials

MADURAI: Given the “increasing threat of disease transmission through borders,” airport and seaport officials in the State will be trained in prevention of such vector-borne diseases as dengue and malaria.

The training will be conducted in Chennai, Tuticorin and Tiruchi, under the aegis of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, New Delhi, and the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

Ports are normally points of transmission of infected vector and the Government is training port authorities in checking the transmission. This is all the most urgent because of the increased outbreak of diseases in South East Asian countries, Additional Director of Public Health S. Elango told The Hindu on Saturday.

The first phase of the programme will be held at Tuticorin, from November 19 to 21. In Chennai, it will be conducted from December 1 to 4. The three-day Tiruchi session will begin on December 17. The sensitisation of port officials, he said, was essential in view of the increased travel by people.

“Some sort of quarantine is required at both airports and seaports. The training will strengthen the surveillance mechanism.”

Mr. Elango, who held a meeting of health officials at Natham in Dindigul district where cases of suspected dengue were reported, said blood samples had been collected from those affected by fever. Preventive steps were taken.

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