Itanagar: As the cases of viral conjunctivitis and eye infection are on the surge in Arunachal Pradesh with school children being the most affected, suspension of schooling activities is being resorted to break the chain of transmission and put a check on the further spread of the high contagious disease.
After the Itanagar Capital Complex and Kanubari sub-division in Longding district, the East Siang district administration, as a precautionary measure, on Wednesday ordered the temporary closure of all private and government schools in the district for a week from July 27 to August 2.
East Siang Deputy Commissioner Tayi Taggu informed that the decision was taken after conducting a survey by District Surveillance Unit, while adding that the DSU observed that conjunctivitis cases were rising rapidly in the district.
“In order to contain the further spread of infections amongst the students and denizens of East Siang district, all the school authorities have been directed to close down their respective schools temporarily, till 2nd August next,” he said.
To keep infection under control, the DC advised the people to maintain hygiene to prevent cross-contamination, adding that the disease can spread easily through direct or indirect contact with an infected person’s eye secretions, contaminated objects or respiratory droplets.
The DC also appealed to all to strictly follow the advisory issued by the District Medical Officer in this regard.
In the wake of rising cases, DMO Dr Radesh Tatan in his advisory urged people to frequent hand-washing, avoid touching their eyes, disinfect surfaces and be isolated in households or workplaces or public gatherings if any person got infected.
Awareness program: Meanwhile, in the wake of rising eye infection cases in the district, the Tirap District Health Society along with the District Administration on Wednesday conducted an ‘investigation cum awareness program on acute conjunctivitis’ at RK Sarada Mission Girls’ School, Khonsa.
Tirap DC Hento Karga advised all students & teaching staff to maintain hygiene to mitigate the spread of infection. He said that ‘closing down schools will not be a solution because it will affect academics, rather each and everyone should try individually to break the chain of infection by maintaining social distance and hygiene’.
DMO Dr N Lowang highlighted how conjunctivitis spreads and how to prevent it. She said the steps to prevent the spread of the virus are- avoiding touching of eyes or face, frequent hand washing, avoiding sharing of handkerchiefs & towels, avoiding sharing of cosmetics, etc.
