LAHORE: The pink eye infection is rapidly spreading throughout Punjab as more than 10,000 cases on Saturday have been reported across the province within a single day.
The Primary and Secondary Health Department of Punjab reported a severe outbreak of pink eye infection with a staggering 10,269 new cases in the past 24 hours.
According to a spokesperson, a total of 394,795 reported cases of eye infections spread across 36 districts within Punjab. The Primary and Secondary Healthcare department has advised that conjunctivitis typically resolves on its own within 8 to 10 days.
According to official statistics, 452 cases of pink eye were reported in the hospitals of Lahore in the last 24 hours. In Bahawalpur, 1,540 people showed up at OPDs of hospitals with the infection, 1,048 in Multan, 1,132 in Faisalabad, and 175 in Rawalpindi.
The provincial health department said the number of people appearing with the disease at private hospitals and clinics is double the data above.
To reduce the risk of infection and aid in recovery, it is strongly recommended to maintain proper eye hygiene, including regular washing with clean water, protection from intense sunlight, and shielding from dust and dirt.
READ MORE: Punjab shuts schools over rising cases of pink eye infection
Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Jamal Nasir warned for timely conjunctive preventative steps to decrease the risk of becoming infected and advised patients to refrain from self-medication to cure the
Talking to a news channel, the minister said that pink-eye is spreading rapidly in densely populated cities where people are exposed to unfriendly environments such as factories, bazaars, markets and shopping plazas.
Patients are advised to use prescribed eye drops and tissues for cleansing their eyes, with the option of using cold water for temporary relief, he added.
He stressed the importance of using hand sanitizers and cautioned against touching one’s eyes without thoroughly washing hands. “Maintaining mutual distance and staying home were the most effective precautions in the prevailing situation”, he added.
Replying to a query, he said many people infected with the disease are not seeing a doctor, while others are resorting to self-medication which can prove injurious to the patients’ eyes, therefore, people should avoid self-medication.”
The health department has already issued safety guidelines to deal with the disease, he added. The Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department in Punjab has issued an advisory as cases of pink eye infection continue to surge in various cities across the province, he mentioned.
“The Punjab health department has alerted all hospitals of the province to make maximum arrangements in their ophthalmology and outpatient departments,” he said.
To another question, he said all patients with eye diseases should visit government hospitals where the eye specialists had been asked to remain on duty.
