TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1988
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PUBLIC URGED TO GUARD AGAINST 'RED EYE' DISEASE
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) URGED THE PUBLIC TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST THE SPREAD OF "RED EYE" DISEASE WHICH IS CLINICALLY KNOWN AS ACUTE HAEMORRHAGIC
CONJUNCTIVITIS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT ALTHOUGH SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT RISE IN THE NUMBER OF "RED EYE" CASES IN HONG KONG, PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE EARLY PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CONTRACTING DISEASE WHICH IS USUALLY PREVALENT IN THE HOT, HUMID SEASON,
THE
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"THE DISEASE CAN BE PREVENTED BY OBSERVING THE SIMPLE RULES PERSONAL HYGIENE, HE SAID.
OF
THE MOST COMMON MODE OF SPREADING THE DISEASE IS THROUGH CONTACT WITH INFECTED PERSONS IN PUBLIC PLACES OR WITHIN FAMILIES.
IF A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY HAS CONTRACTED THE DISEASE, HE/SHE SHOULD AVOID SHARING THE SAME TOWEL, HANDKERCHIEF AND WASHING BASIN WITH OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE DISEASE IS A VIRAL INFECTION WITH
A SHORT INCUBATION PERIOD.
IT HAS AN ACUTE ONSET, CAUSING EYF DISCOMFORT WITH RED AND SWOLLEN EYE LIDS.
THERE IS NO DISTURBANCE OF VISION. THE DISEASE 13 USUALLY BENIGN AND SELF-LIMITING, LASTING SEVEN TO 10 DAYS.
"PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTRACTED THE DISKASE SHOULD ЧЕЕК TREATMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THEY CAN GET TREATMENT AT ANY GOVERNMENT GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS AND THERE IS NO NEED TO THE EYE CLINICS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
'INFECTED PERSONS SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM PUBLIC PLACES SCHOOLS, THEATRES AND SWIMMING POOLS TO AVOID SPREADING THE
MEDICAL OF THE ATTEND
SUCH A9 DISEASE.
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SINCE RED EYE DISEASE IS NOT A NOTIFIABLE DISEASE, THERE ARE NO STATISTICS KEPT BY THE DEPARTMENT ON THE NUMBER OF RED EYE CASES.
HOWEVER, THE SITUATION 19 BEING CLOSELY MONITORED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS SEEKING TREATMENT.
CENTRAL
TO EDICATE THE PUBLIC ON THE DISEASE, THE DEPARTMENT'S HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT HAS SET UP A 24-HOUR HOTLINE (CHINESE ONLY), 5-8330111, WHICH WILL OPERATE FROM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
CALLERS TO THE HOTLINE WILL HEAR A TAPED MESSAGE ON THE SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE, ITS MODR OF TRANSMISSION, PREVENTION, AND CURE.
THE LAST OUTBREAK OF THE DISEASE OCCURRED BETWEEN AUGUST AND CTOBER IN 1975.
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