By Krist Boo
Sept 1, 2005
The Straits Times
JANET LO woke up last Friday morning and found herself looking out from a pair of itchy red eyes.
The 45-year-old pharmaceutical supervisor headed straight to her company doctor, who sent her home with eye drops and orders to have a day's rest. She recovered within three days.
She had no idea where she could have caught the infection, but her doctor suggested it could have been from a fellow rider on the crowded trains she takes to work every morning.
Ms Lo was one of 5,200 people who caught conjunctivitis last month, when Singapore was hit by a minor epidemic of the eye infection.
In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Health said doctors at the 18 polyclinics here treated about 1,300 patients a week for conjunctivitis during the month of August - more than double the weekly average so far this year.
While the disease - also referred to as pink eyes, red eyes or even sore eyes - can be caused by allergies and bacteria, it is most commonly caused by a highly infectious virus.
There is no cure for viral conjunctivitis, although eye drops can relieve the symptoms.
The spike in cases was mostly seen at polyclinics in the north-west of the island, in areas like Yishun, Choa Chu Kang and Jurong.
In some weeks, up to three-quarters of patients were treated in these areas, while the remainder were seen at polyclinics in neighbourhoods like Outram, Bedok, Pasir Ris and Tampines.
People infected with conjunctivitis are advised to see their doctors and to minimise spreading the infection by not rubbing their eyes or sharing personal items with others.
And i am so suay to get it now!!!