The ‘red eye’ epidemic has become the name of the latest scare in Pakistan. The epidemic reached such proportions that schools had to be closed. The acceleration in the rate of increase in cases has created great anxiety.
IT IS MOST SEEN IN CHILDREN
Punjab State Governorship announced on September 27 that schools were closed until Monday due to the conjunctivitis disease, known as red eye, which has become an epidemic especially in children. Conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the white part of the eye, is an epidemic disease that causes redness, burning, itching and discharge in the eyes.
MINISTER NAQVI: THE SITUATION IS SHOCKING
Authorities stated that schools will open on Monday and the situation will be monitored. Provincial Interim Minister Mohsin Naqvi, during his visit to a school on September 27, stated that the situation was ‘shocking’ and that 5-6 children in almost every classroom were suffering from the disease.
Punjab State Health Authorities emphasized in their statement yesterday that they detected 13 thousand new cases in one day and more than 40 thousand cases in a week. It was recorded that there were a total of 86 thousand 133 red eye cases in the region in September.
WHAT IS RED EYE DISEASE (CONJUNCTIVITIS)?
Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the thin tissue of the eye called the conjunctiva. It may occur due to bacterial, viral or allergic reactions. It has symptoms such as red eyes, burning, watering, itching and sticky eye discharge.
(DHA)