Mumbai has witnessed a major surge in Conjunctivitis cases. According to data presented by the state’s health department this year 3,462 cases were reported. Out of these, in the first two weeks of August, 3,360 cases were reported. This means more than 250 people contracted the ailment in a day.
On the contrary, BMC maintained that there is no surge in Conjunctivitis cases in the city. A senior official from the civic health department claimed that the number of cases in the city is quite low. "At the moment, all diseases or viruses are under control in Mumbai, and conjunctivitis has little to no effect on the population. Only minor cases are being recorded, despite our thorough monitoring of the situation," he said.
Up till August 6, in addition to Mumbai, 116 instances were reported in Vasai Virar, 235 cases in Navi Mumbai, and 22 cases in Thane.
Common symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness, discomfort, watering, and discharge.
To know more in detail about the Conjunctivitis spike in the city and about the ground situation Mumbai Live’s team got an opportunity to interact with Dr. Nishant Kumar, Consultant, Ophthalmology, PD Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre and Dr. Susan Fernandes, Child Specialist, The Children’s Hospital Mumbai.
Dr. Nishant Kumar said, “There are many reasons for the surge in the case of conjunctivitis in Mumbai. The major reason is the spread of the atypical viral, upper respiratory tract infections. A lot of the conjunctivitis cases that we examine are viral and are secondary to the same virus that causes this upper respiratory tract infection, which normally leads to a cough and cold. Typically, when the eye gets attacked by viral conjunctivitis, a superadded bacterial conjunctivitis (virus) gets on top of it, causing the process to get compounded and the infection to get more severe.”
He added, “A lot of people that we are examining, have had a respiratory tract infection like a cough and cold, which is often followed two to three days later by a red eye.”
Stating the reason for the severe outbreak this year he said, “As you know, a lot of viruses are mutating, and therefore, every time there is a mutation, it can make the virus more pathogenic as well as more contagious. This time, what we are seeing is a more pathogenic virus causing more severe conjunctivitis but also a virus that is more contagious, and therefore the outbreak has been more severe this year.”
Dr. Susan Fernandes said, “This year we are seeing a spike in viral illness. This is the most common reason for conjunctivitis. Children are in close contact with each other, especially in school, and do not adhere strictly to hand hygiene. Thus it spreads rather quickly in children.”
Both doctors shared the stats of the number of patients they examined before the surge and after the surge in this eye infection. They stated that in a month one or two cases of pink eye were reported before the surge, but since the last three months, ten to twelve adults and two to three children are being examined by them on a weekly basis.
Following graphs represent number of cases being reported at one eye care centre in Mumbai:
Precautions one can take to prevent pink eye:
1. Frequently wash and sanitize your hands.
2. Keep personal items separate, particularly toiletries and handkerchiefs.
3. Refrain from often rubbing your eyes.
4. Keep in mind that the conjunctivitis virus transmits through touch rather than through the air. Personal items shouldn't be shared between people, whether they are adults or children.
Maharashtra Director of Health Services Dr Nitin Ambadekar assured that there is no need to panic as the situation will be soon under control.
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