Pink eye outbreak in Pakistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pink eye outbreak in Pakistan | |
|---|---|
| Disease | Conjunctivitis (pink eye) |
| Location | Pakistan |
| First outbreak | Karachi |
| Arrival date | September 2023 |
| Confirmed cases | 86,133 in Punjab (as of September 2023) |
In September 2023, there was an occurrence of conjunctivitis, commonly referred to as pink eye, in multiple cities across Pakistan. The outbreak initially began in Karachi and subsequently extended to Lahore, eventually reaching Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[1][2]
As of September 2023, Punjab had reported a total of 86,133 cases of pink eye. Within a 24-hour span, Lahore saw an additional 85 new cases, at a time when the city's air quality had worsened due to reduced rainfall that year. The total number of cases had doubled since the previous month of August.[3][4]
Response from health authorities
Amid the escalating cases, the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department in Punjab issued a public advisory. This advisory outlined safety protocols, urging individuals to utilize hand sanitizer, refrain from touching their eyes without proper hand hygiene, and avoid using items that had come into contact with infected individuals.[5]