Taiwan CDC indicated that recently the infection rate of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) in the community is on the rise, and the highest incidence rate is reported in northern Taiwan. Therefore, the public is urged to practice good personal hygiene and take proper self-protection measures.
According to the surveillance data collected by the Real-time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance (RODS) System during the last four Sundays (week 23-26), there was a nationwide increase in the number of AHC infections. The incidence rates reported during the last four Sundays were respectively 3.17‰, 4.95‰, 5.37‰ and 7.56‰. Based on the surveillance data collected by the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, there was also a significant increase in the number of reported cases of AHC. The numbers of reported cases during the last four weeks were respectively 14, 56, 170, and 218. After the telephone interviews with community ophthalmology clinics, some doctors have also pointed out that recently there has been an increase in the number of patients with AHC, suggesting that AHC in communities is on the rise.
AHC is highly contagious. Its incubation period ranges from 12 hours to several days. The main symptoms include a gritty feeling or burning sensation in the eyes, light sensitivity, excessive tearing and increased discharge from the eyes. More severe conditions include swollen eyelids, edema or bleeding under the conjunctiva. Symptoms usually last for about 4 to 6 days.
With summer approaching, families with infected children are urged to react promptly by seeking immediate medical help. Families are advised to follow the doctor’s instructions on the use of medication and ensure the infected children remain at home. Other preventive measures include handling discharges from the eyes with care, washing hands frequently with soap and avoiding visits to public areas such as communal swimming pools. Good personal hygiene is key to preventing infection. To ensure hands are thoroughly cleaned, follow a five-step washing procedure: wet, scrub, rinse, hold and wipe. Avoid rubbing eyes with hands and use clean towels, cotton swabs or tissues for wiping.
In addition, the surveillance system has also detected that the ongoing AHC outbreak was caused by Coxsackie virus A24. As the enterovirus epidemic is still not over, eye clinics and clinical doctors are urged to strengthen hand hygiene, Taiwan CDC also appeals to the doctors to reinforce personal hygiene knowledge of the sick children and their parents in order to prevent the transmission of the disease.
For any questions or further information on infectious diseases, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline 1922, or visit the Taiwan CDC's website.