Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Kerala Minister Calls for Public Action Against Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Kerala’s Health Minister K Muraleedharan asked people to help stop diseases spread by mosquitoes.
He said everyone should look for and remove standing water.
Mosquitoes can breed in this water.
Schools, offices and homes were given different days to check for breeding places.
Schools should quickly report children who develop fever symptoms.
Hotels and roadside food shops should serve boiled and cooled water.
Officials will increase inspections of unhygienic establishments.
Health centres were also told to keep enough medicines available.
Minister K Muraleedharan urged communities to help prevent mosquito-borne and other communicable diseases.
He called for Dry Day activities in schools on Fridays, offices on Saturdays and homes on Sundays.
The activities involve finding and removing stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed.
Schools were asked to report children’s fever symptoms promptly to the Health Department.
Hotels and roadside eateries were directed to serve boiled and cooled water, with inspections and strict action promised for violations.
- Who
- Kerala Health and Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan, the public, schools, government offices, households, health officials and food establishments.
- What
- The minister launched a World Mosquito Day observance and urged public cooperation to prevent mosquito-borne and communicable diseases.
- When
- Thursday, August 20; the year was not specified.
- Where
- Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Why
- To reduce mosquito breeding, limit the spread of diseases such as dengue, prevent water-borne diseases and enable timely intervention when cases are reported.
- Event
- State-level observance of World Mosquito Day
- Main appeal
- Full public participation and vigilance against mosquito-borne diseases
- Dry Day schedule
- Schools on Fridays, government offices on Saturdays and households on Sundays
- Priority action
- Identify and eliminate stagnant water and mosquito-breeding sites
- Food safety direction
- Hotels and roadside eateries must serve boiled and cooled water
- Enforcement
- Inspections will be intensified and strict action taken against unhygienic or non-compliant establishments
- Medical preparedness
- Primary health centres were directed to maintain adequate medicine stocks