XN000022-1975-09-12 — Page 5

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1975

ADVICE ON PREVENTION OF

+RED EYE+ DISEASE ******

THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY AGAIN URGED THE PUBLIC TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTION IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF +RED EYE+ DISEASE, WHICH HAS BEEN ON AN INCREASING TREND RECENTLY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF CASES IN HONG KONG BECAUSE IT IS NOT A NOTIFIABLE DISEASE, REPORTS FROM TWO GOVERNMENT EYE CLINICS SHOWED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE.

THE YAU MA TEI EYE CLINIC REPORTED MORE THAN 900 CASES IN THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER, COMPARED WITH 250 IN THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST. WHILE THE VIOLET PEEL EYE CLINIC ON HONG KONG ISLAND SAW ABOUT 200 CASES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE DISEASE, CLINICALLY KNOWN AS KERATO CONJUCTIVITIES, IS USUALLY PREVALENT DURING THE SWIMMING SEASON.

HE WARNED THAT THE SWIMMING SEASON IS STILL NOT YET OVER AND THE PUBLIC MUST BE ON THE ALERT AT ALL TIMES IN THE PREVENTION OF THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE, THE PUBLIC MUST OBSERVE THE RULES OF PERSONAL HYGIENE, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE COMMONEST MEANS OF SPREADING THE DISEASE IS THROUGH CONTACT, FOR EXAMPLE IN PUBLIC PLACES SUCH AS SWIMMING POOLS, IN SCHOOLS AND AMONG FAMILIES.

+ IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM THE DISEASE SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS,+ HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN FURTHER ADVISED THAT IF A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY HAS CONTRACTED THE DISEASE, THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY SHOULD TAKE CARE NOT TO SHARE THE SAME TOWEL OR HANDKERCHIEF AND SHOULD PAY GREATER ATTENTION TO PERSONAL HYGIENE.

THE DISEASE IS OF ACUTE ONSET, CAUSING REDNESS AND SORENESS ON THE EYES, VARYING FROM SLIGHT IRRITATION TO SEVERE PAIN.

TREATMENT CONSISTS OF APPLICATION OF EYE DROPS ON THE EYES AS ADVISED BY DOCTORS.

OINTMENT