Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is currently breaking out in Gia Lai province with many cases recorded over the past month.

Typically, at Saigon - Gia Lai International Eye Hospital, the hospital examines an average of over 100 patients with eye diseases per day; of which more than 50% are pink eye patients. Similarly, at Pleiku City Medical Center, the number of pink eye patients coming for examination was scattered in early August and has increased sharply since then.

Accordingly, on average, Pleiku City Medical Center receives nearly 100 cases of pink eye for examination and treatment every day. Currently, pink eye is spreading strongly and the risk of spreading is highest in schools. The peak of the epidemic started in early September and increased after the new school year started.

Faced with the above situation, Gia Lai provincial authorities have recommended and requested parents and schools to improve disease prevention and control measures.

The provincial Center for Disease Control recommends: Although pink eye is an acute disease with dramatic symptoms and is easily transmitted, it is usually benign and leaves few sequelae. However, the disease often has a great impact on daily life, study and work, and there are many cases where the disease lasts for a long time, causing complications that affect vision later, so everyone needs to be aware of disease prevention and need to be treated promptly when sick.

Gia Lai Provincial Center for Disease Control also requested hospitals and medical centers in districts, towns and cities to strengthen propaganda, monitoring, early detection and timely handling of outbreaks of pink eye in the area; organize guidance on implementing anti-infection measures in kindergartens, schools, agencies, enterprises and communities; medical examination and treatment facilities in the district need to organize well the consultation and treatment. Timely notify units with patients to implement disease prevention measures.

Pink eye is easily contracted and easily transmitted through direct contact with an infected person through respiratory secretions or handling and touching contaminated objects such as doorknobs, telephones; touching the mouth, nose and then bringing the hands to the eyes is also the cause of germs entering the eyes. Crowded places, close contact, public places, hospitals, classrooms are also places with a high risk of spreading the disease.