Nursing students to be trained in identifying mosquito larvae

In a one-of-a-kind initiative undertaken by the Health Department, nursing students from the district will be trained in identifying the larvae of dengue-causing mosquitoes. These students will help the Health Department in conducting activities across the district to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases.

“Nursing students will be trained and will accompany health teams on door-to-door visits across the district. Activities for the prevention of dengue have already started from January and will pick up pace in the coming days as the temperature is rising,”

said Civil Surgeon Dr Pradeep Mohindra.

One can identify Aedes aegypti larvae by their short siphon, air tube with pecten teeth, and behaviour of hovering near water’s surface, said another expert.

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito. There are four distinct serotypes of the dengue virus. Symptoms appear within three to 14 days after a person is infected. Dengue fever is a flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults.

Anushka, a nursing student, said they were geared up to be a part of the initiative of the department. “It will give us first-hand experience of working in the field. Practical training is very important, and this exercise will provide us that,” she added.

The Health Department also plans to educate students, including those in senior secondary classes and colleges, on identifying dengue larvae and contributing to community prevention efforts.

Collaborations with medical colleges and other nursing institutions for training students, focusing on the early detection of lifestyle disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and strokes—all of which are classified as non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—will also be initiated, said sources.