TAXILA: The education department has taken action against schools in Taxila and Wah cantonment for violating health guidelines in the ongoing anti-dengue campaign in the district.

Sources said five private schools two in Wah cantonment and three in Taxila were served show cause notices for not following hygiene Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for dengue prevention.

Talking to Dawn, Deputy District Education Officer Abdul Khalig said that action was taken based on findings of the dengue audit team, which reported that mosquito larvae had been found in the schools.

He said the registration of these schools would be cancelled and legal action would be tal(en against administrations if any private school continued to violate guidelines.

When asked, Khalig said that their action was not limited to the private sector and that public sector schools were also under close scrutiny.

He said that two public school teachers were also served show cause notices.

Abdul Khalig added that all principals had been instructed to participate in the anti-dengue campaign in educational institutions.

`The local administration is closely monitoring areas that have been declared `high risk zones`, and is taking stern action against those violating SOPs,` he said.

`The Punjab government has directed all schools to conduct a `zero period` to raise awareness amongst students,` he said.

He added that schools have been directed to plant lemongrass, mint and marigold plants in order to curb dengue growth.

A health official who asked to remain anonymous said that many dengue patients from Taxila had been admitted to hospitals in Rawalpindi as the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital had no dengue testing or treatment facility.