The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has recorded 4,388 cases of conjunctivitis, or sore eyes, in Negros Oriental, with health authorities warning that infections could continue to rise because of the disease’s highly contagious nature.
PHO chief Dr. Liland Estacion said Thursday, August 6, that 2,674 of the reported cases were from Dumaguete City, while the remaining 1,714 were recorded in other cities and municipalities across the province.
“Cases may continue to rise as conjunctivitis, caused by viruses or bacteria, is highly contagious and spreads easily through contact with eye discharge or contaminated surfaces,” Estacion said in an interview.
She, however, noted that despite the increasing number of cases, there is no need to declare a conjunctivitis outbreak in the province.
Acting on the PHO’s recommendation, Governor Manuel Sagarbarria on Wednesday evening ordered the suspension of classes at all levels in the province on Friday to give schools time to conduct cleaning, disinfection, and other hygiene measures throughout the weekend.
Estacion also urged the public to avoid self-medication, particularly the use of over-the-counter eye drops, and instead seek medical consultation for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Her appeal came amid reports that some pharmacies have either run out of regular eye drops or have stopped selling them.
Meanwhile, Department of Education (DepEd) Dumaguete Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Juditha Mapue said the division is not recommending a shift to modular or online learning despite the increasing incidence of conjunctivitis in schools.
“We cannot tell when this sore eyes episode will end, and it is not practical to suspend face-to-face classes,” Mapue said.
Instead, she said, schools are isolating students showing symptoms of conjunctivitis, as well as those who may have been exposed, to help prevent further transmission.
She said one school in Dumaguete City reported that about 30 percent of students in one classroom had contracted sore eyes.
Only the affected class sections have temporarily suspended in-person classes, with students advised to stay home and isolate until they recover, she added.*PNA
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