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A Class 9 student in Mudinampattu village near Katpadi in Vellore died of dengue, prompting the district administration to intensify preventive measures. They took up fogging and clearing of stagnant water in the affected area on Sunday.

According to Health officials, the victim, G. Sivani, 13, was studying at Government High School in K.V. Kuppam.

She was the daughter of B. Govindaraj and G. Prema, who are wage labourers.

They said Sivani was suffering from high fever a week ago. Subsequently, she was admitted to Government Taluk Hospital in K.V. Kuppam where she received treatment. As her condition failed to improve, she was shifted to a private hospital in Vellore, where she died later.

“We have been creating awareness among parents on the importance of admitting children affected with dengue to hospitals immediately. Special health camps are being held in affected areas as a preventive measure,” D. Bhanu, Deputy Director of Health Services (DDHS), Vellore, told The Hindu.

Health officials said that on an average, 10-15 cases of dengue are reported in Vellore district every month. One of the reasons for the increasing number of cases is internal migration to nearby cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai and the subsequent return to native villages with infection, they said.