Pinkeye cases on the rise, may signal serious epidemic

Most of the cases are accompanied by symptoms such as hemorrhages in the eyes and swollen eyelids, which are the same symptoms of enterovirus 70 patients, said Lu Tah-wen, director of the Tri-Service General Hospital’s ophthalmology department, to the United Evening News.

Known also as “enteroviral conjunctivitis,” “acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis,” and “Apollo 11 disease,” enterovirus 70 is transmitted by direct or indirect contact with discharge from infected eyes.

Other symptoms include sudden onset of pain or the sensation of a foreign body in the eye and seromucous discharge, and it is highly infectious, explained Lu.

Less commonly, patients may also suffer from systemic and upper respiratory infection, fever and headache.

The best way to combat the infectious disease is patient quarantine, he said. The treatment, however, is relatively simple: just use eye drops, added Lu.

The Department of Health’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said since the recent outbreak had not been declared an epidemic, it was not clear on how many people in the country are affected with conjunctivitis — commonly known as pinkeye— but it recognized a recent increase of cases particularly in the northern Keelung and southern Yunlin areas and has therefore taken necessary measures, including urging the public to wash their hands regularly to avoid being infected.

CDC further said that it has already contacted the Ministry of Education and epidemiologists to work out measures to cope with the situation and informed hospitals under the direct jurisdiction of the DOH to take measures to prevent a further spread of the disease.

Noting that the last time a pinkeye outbreak occurred in Taiwan was in the 1970s and that it was the result of enterovirus 70, Shih agreed with Lu and said that this time around, the outbreak seems to have been caused by enterovirus.

Meanwhile, Chiu Hsiao-wen, deputy director of Yunlin County’s Bureau of Education, discounted a China Times report Friday that over 1,000 people in Yunlin have been infected, saying that as of Friday morning, the bureau had not been notified by any school in the county of an outbreak of the disease.

Kao Kun-yu, an official with the Yunlin County Bureau of Health, also said Friday that as of noon, his bureau had not received any requests from any schools or the Yunlin Bureau of Education for help regarding a pinkeye outbreak.

Kao called for students, particularly young kids, and all members of the public to seek medical aid if they are infected with pinkeye.

To avoid being infected, Kao said, kids should be taught to wash their hands often with water and soap. They also should not share eye droppers, tissues, wash cloths, towels or pillowcases with other people, Kao added.

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