There has been a major spurt in conjunctivitis cases in and around three districts– Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland, with about 90% of the affected individuals being students, according to recent reports.
Following this, deputy commissioners of the three districts ordered closure of schools from August 21 to 26.
When contacted, senior eye specialist of District Hospital Dimapur (DHD) Dr Asonla Aying Chang disclosed that the hospital alone recorded 70 new cases of conjunctivitis as on August 19, of which 90% of the cases involved students.
A doctor at a private hospital said that there were hundreds of unreported cases in Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland districts and hospitals continued to see an increased number of patients reporting eye infection.
Pointing out that the entire country was witnessing a surge in cases of eye infection or acute conjunctivitis, the doctor said it looked like there was almost an epidemic of conjunctivitis.
However, the doctor contended that only an epidemiology report would ascertain whether it was taking epidemic proportions.
Meanwhile, despite the risks, many business establishments and shopkeepers in the state’s commercial hub Dimapur were still seen running their normal business activities even though some of them had been infected by the flu without taking any precautionary measures.
When contacted, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Dimapur Mhalo Humtsoe said that the district administration was actively engaged with the Health department to tackle the crisis. She also said that discussions would be held regarding shopkeepers who have contracted the flu.
Confederation of Nagaland Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) president Dr Khekugha Muru called for prioritising safety and urged businesses establishments across the state to use hand sanitisers and protective eye glasses, regardless of their infection status.
He also advocated compliance with the precautionary guidelines issued by health authorities and the administration. Muru emphasised the pivotal role that businesses could play in curbing the spread of the flu if proactive measures were taken.
DC Dmu replies to ANPSA
Responding to a representation submitted by All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA) Central, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur Sachin Jaiswal has reaffirmed that physical classes in schools would remain suspended from August 21 to 26 after considering the health of the students in particular and the public at large,.
DC Dimapur Sachin Jaiswal, stated while replying to a letter from ANPSA Central, over the latter’s request to revoke the August 19 order for closure of schools or allow voluntary closure in view of completion of syllabus and exam schedule.
The DC in the letter to ANPSA said the request was deliberated with the health authorities of the district.
Jaiswal explained that the suspension of physical classes was intended to break one of the cycles of transmission and to prevent exponential surge of eye flu cases not only among students, but also among teachers and parents.
In view of such, the Deputy Commissioner Dimapur said it was concluded that partial opening of schools or classes would be unadvisable.
The DC acknowledged that the concerns of ANPSA Central were genuinely focused towards timely completion of syllabus and examination as per the schedule.
He, however, maintained that considering the health of the students and the public, physical classes would remain suspended.
Earlier, reacting to the directive of the DC for closure of all schools in Dimapur district in view of widespread cases of eye flu (conjunctivitis), the ANPSA Central on Saturday appealed to the DC to revoke the order since “schools in Dimapur are not having any unmanageable outbreak of eye flu (conjunctivitis).” ANPSA also requested the DC to allow schools to remain open voluntarily so that the exams can go on un-interrupted.
ANPSA also pointed out that schools were able to carry on physical classes and taking care to adhere to the recommendation of the Health department to prevent spread of the flu.
ANPSA also informed that all NBSE schools were now in the process of conducting mid-term exams for Class 12, while some schools were also conducting exams for lower classes. In this regard, ANPSA said it would be difficult for the schools in Dimapur to close down for a week, since they would not be able to complete the exams in the given time frame, thereby affecting the completion of syllabus.