With conjunctivitis, a viral eye disease, spreading at a faster pace in Ganjam district after the cyclonic storm Hudhud, around 20 new patients are being admitted at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital here daily.
The virus spread through air and infects people, informed professor of MKCG Ophthalmology Department B Nageswar Rao Subudhi, adding “if a member of a family is infected, chances of it spreading to others are very high”.
The eyes of a person suffering from conjunctivitis turn red and watery constantly. “However, it does not affect the vision and the affected person can be cured within three to four days,”
Subudhi said.
The sudden change in climate after Hudhud could have supported spread of conjunctivitis and the virus would be in the air till the onset of winter, expected in November last week, he said.
For preventive measure, people should maintain distance from affected persons and avoid using their belongings. Patients are advised to use eye drops, maintain personal hygiene and wear dark glasses to lessen the spread of the infection, the doctor added.