The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that the Centre has been co- ordinating with the State Governments on controlling Dengue fever.

Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the review meeting of the State health Ministers and higher officials of the Health department of the Southern States in Chennai, Mr.Azad said that school education departments have been suggested to issue advisory to students to wear full hand shirts and pants to prevent the spread of the disease.

He also said that more awareness should be created at rural and urban areas as a preventive measure.

Mr.Azad has directed municipal corporations, urban bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions to carry out a special campaign for sanitation and cleanliness to control dengue. He also asked them to carry out fogging to kill and control adult mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya.

Mr Azad added that the Swasth Bharat programme (Arogaya Bharatam) on regional DD channels sponsored by the Ministry of Health should be utilised by state governments for providing information to the people about the measures being taken by the Government for dengue prevention and control, and facilities for diagnosis and case management.

He has also directed the five southern states to provide information about the diagnostic facilities, case management and vector control may be widely publicised through print media and other means of mass communication.

Our Correspondent reports that at least 30 deaths have been reported due to dengue in Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa reviewed the situation yesterday and issued necessary instructions to control the spread of the disease.