Students in four districts – Chumoukedima, Dimapur, Mon and Niuland — are back to school after a break amid rising cases of conjunctivitis or eye flu. The district administrations had announced closure of physical classes for a week as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the infection as health facilities continue to register dozens of new cases daily, especially among school-doing children. The department of Health and Family Welfare was quick in alerting the public about the prevalence of conjunctivitis in other states before such cases were reported in Nagaland, by issuing advisory and disseminating information about the dos and don’ts of the infection. Similar advisories have been issued amid surge in dengue and Japanese encephalitis cases in the state. Other departments too have been prompt in keeping the citizens informed about any development, be it the spread of the lumpy skin disease in cattle, African swine fever in pigs, avian influenza in poultry, extreme weather condition or natural calamities. Such prompt response during crisis not only brings a sense of reassurance to the public but also helps curb the spread of rumours and disinformation. The government departments seem to have learned the importance of keeping the people informed, perhaps during the COVID-19 outbreak which disrupted normal life. There is no denying the fact that the Nagaland government did a commendable job in updating the citizens about the daily cases, weekly and monthly trends, and other important information throughout the pandemic. It helped the state contain the spread of the virus and minimise fatalities. A similar approach can help curb transmission of other infectious diseases as well.
While the concerned authorities and health experts should continue to monitor the current situation, the general public and school administrations also need to play their part in containing the infection. Resumption of physical classes for students does not mean eye flu has been defeated. Non closure of educational institutions in some districts also does not mean such areas are free of conjunctivitis cases. What one is sure of is that we cannot afford to deprive students of classroom learning for long. So, the way forward is taking preventive measures like sanitation, maintaining hand hygiene, refraining from touching the eyes and not sharing personal belongings with others. Schools can take the present health issue as an opportunity to imbibe the importance of sanitation among the children. By making personal hygiene and cleanliness a way of life, we can prevent various infectious and mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue and Japanese encephalitis, which affect dozens of people in the state every year. The COVID-19 pandemic experience should help tackle infectious diseases.
