Pakistan schools shut over eye virus outbreak

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LAHORE, Sept 28, (Agencies): The Punjab government has taken decisive action in response to a widespread outbreak of conjunctivitis in the province, necessitating the temporary closure of all government and private schools from Thursday through Sunday.

The move came after the Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, paid a visit to a government school in Lahore, where he observed several students suffering from the highly contagious eye infection, commonly known as pink eye.

In a video statement, Naqvi expressed his concern, saying, “In every classroom of the school, there were at least five to six students affected by the infection.” In light of this alarming situation, he promptly issued directives to declare Thursday and Saturday as holidays for all schools, both public and private, throughout the province. It’s worth noting that Friday was already designated as a public holiday in celebration of Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH).

While the schools are set to reopen on Monday, Naqvi has stressed the importance of implementing strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent further outbreaks within the educational institutions.

During Naqvi’s visit, students also raised concerns about inadequate lighting and ventilation in their classrooms. Expressing his disappointment, the interim Chief Minister summoned the school secretary to address these issues urgently.

The conjunctivitis outbreak in Punjab has been spreading rapidly, with hundreds of patients seeking medical attention at hospitals daily. This viral infection is characterized by symptoms such as redness, inflammation, painful eyes, and excessive tearing, making it highly contagious if precautions are not taken.

Medical experts have warned of the risk of widespread transmission of the virus if proper preventive measures are not adopted. According to the Cleveland Clinic website, pink eye can be caused by allergens, irritants, bacteria, or viruses. The bacterial and viral forms are particularly contagious and can spread through close contact, such as touching or shaking hands with an infected person.

Treatment options depend on the specific cause and may involve eye drops, ointments, pills, or eye flushes. Professor Asad Aslam, a prominent ophthalmologist, stressed the importance of taking precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus. He advised, “To protect yourself, it is advisable to wear sunglasses, promptly separate your bedding and utensils, and exercise extreme caution to avoid further transmission through touching contaminated surfaces or close contact with infected individuals.”

The government’s swift response aims to mitigate the conjunctivitis outbreak and safeguard the health of students and the wider community.

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