Eye disease rampant, 56,000 schools closed in Pakistan

KARACHI: More than 56,000 schools have been closed so far due to an outbreak of eye disease. Further measures including whether to close other schools will be taken after taking into account the level of disease spread. More schools have been closed in Punjab province to reduce the spread of the disease. Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan. Hundreds of people have already been infected here.

The infection spreads rapidly and has symptoms similar to conjunctivitis, such as redness in the eyes, unpleasant itching, and crusty pus. Health experts say that the disease can be spread by touching the sick person or the things he has used, and through coughing and sneezing. Both children and adults are affected by the disease. But no one has been reported to have lost their eyesight due to this disease.

It is a public holiday in Pakistan. This has reduced the spread of the disease somewhat. Offices and schools will resume functioning on Monday after the holiday. The children will be inspected at school gates and those with symptoms will be sent back.