With a mysterious viral fever claiming lives of 106 children in Andhra Pradesh so far, the state government launched an action plan today to prevent the spread of the disease, including a massive sanitation drive across the state.‘‘We have taken up a five-day action plan that gives priority to sanitation besides keeping the medical and health department on full alert,’’ Health Minister Dr K. Sivaprasada Rao said here.The decision was taken after CM N. Chandrababu Naidu held a video conference to review the situation with collectors, municipal and panchayat raj officials of the nine-affected districts yesterday morning.So far, about 190 cases have been reported from Telangana region and parts of coastal Andhra, of which 106 children had died, Rao said. Though the exact cause of the disease is not yet established, experts feel that the viral encephalitis may be caused by mosquito bite.The action plan, to continue till July 18 and envisaging expenditure of Rs 25 lakh per district, would involve people from village level, and focus on sanitation, cleanliness of environs, anti-larva fogging, provision of chlorinated safe drinking water, besides creating general awareness.The funds for the action plan were allotted to the state government by the second State Finance Commission, under a mosquito eradication programme, for utilisation in slums.The CM has further directed officials to shift piggeries to locations 5 km away from all human habitats, if needed with the help of police, and formulate special schemes to rehabilitate their owners. People have also been advised to cover the windows of their homes with Pyrethirum-impregnated gunny bags.To create awareness about the disease, the staff in all schools has been asked to explain the ill-effects of mosquitoes to students.
