In response to a surge in conjunctivitis cases across the state of Nagaland, authorities have taken the proactive step of temporarily closing schools in three districts. Dimapur, Chumoukedima, and Nuiland will witness school closures until August 26th, as officials grapple with the growing number of cases of this highly contagious eye infection.
The first reported case of conjunctivitis was identified in a member of the Assam Rifles, who had returned to the Phek district in July after taking leave. The state’s program officer for the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), Dr. Hoito Sema, confirmed this. Since July 1st, the state has recorded a total of 1,006 cases, marking a significant increase in comparison to recent years.
Among the districts, Dimapur has borne the brunt of the outbreak, accounting for 721 cases. Kohima follows with 198 cases, and Mokokchung with 87 cases. However, it is anticipated that the total number of cases could escalate further, as several district hospitals are yet to submit their case reports.
As a response to the escalating situation, the deputy commissioners of Chumoukedima, Dimapur, and Niuland have jointly announced the temporary closure of physical classes in schools. This decision comes after consultations with officials from both the Health Department and the School Education Department. The objective is to curb the spread of the infection, which has particularly affected children.
While traditional in-person classes will be suspended, educational authorities have urged schools to explore alternative methods, such as online classes, to ensure minimal disruption to students’ learning. Thavaseelan K, the Principal Director of School Education, clarified that while there would be no statewide directive, district commissioners hold the authority to make such decisions based on their local circumstances.
Taking note of the seriousness of the situation in Dimapur, Dr. Sema and his team conducted an assessment at the local district hospital. Expressing optimism, Dr. Sema mentioned that the closure of schools could contribute to reducing the number of cases. He also pointed out that conjunctivitis is often seasonal and is likely to recede as the monsoon wanes.
However, the decision to close schools has been met with some opposition. The All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA) Central appealed to the Dimapur administration, requesting a reconsideration of the school closure order. They argue that the outbreak in the district is manageable and does not warrant such drastic measures.
The situation continues to evolve, and health authorities are closely monitoring the conjunctivitis outbreak. As the affected districts implement measures to control the spread of infection, the broader community remains hopeful that the situation will improve once the monsoon season subsides.