Millions of children told to stay at home as 13,000 new cases of viral conjunctivitis are reported in just one day
More than 56,000 schools in Pakistan closed their doors for four days amid an outbreak of viral conjunctivitis, with 13,000 new cases reported in one day on Tuesday.
Millions of students were sent home after Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, announced that it had recorded nearly 400,000 infections since the start of the year.
The fast-spreading eye infection, colloquially known as “pink eye”, is an inflammation of the mucous membrane covering the front of the eye and eyelids, causing redness, itchiness and discharge.
It is spread through coughing, sneezing and physical touch.