Conjunctivitis, known locally as 'pinkeye' has been spreading fast in schools in Pingtan county only a half month into the new school year, as hundreds of students have reported infections, according to the Pingtan Times on Sept 18.

Lin Min, a high school freshman in Pingtan, sees a doctor after being infected with pinkeye. [Photo/pingtan.gov.cn]

Liushui Primary School took the heaviest blow, with about 120 students having the infection.

“It all happened so quickly. The students can easily catch it when they play around at school,” said Lin Caiying, the school’s president.

“Now those infected are staying home. And we have intensified our disinfection efforts. Everything is under control,” she added.

Haibin Primary School reported more than 30 cases within three days from Sept 15 to 17, and Chengguan Middle School said it found 50-plus infected in the second week of the semester.

All schools are on alert for the disease and are taking up more preventive measures including providing the students with eyewash and mung bean soup, which is deemed to alleviate the situation.

Pinkeye, or acute conjunctivitis, is a contagious inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye which is usually caused by bacterial infection. It often occurs in spring and fall, according to Lin Yanfu, an eye doctor in Pingtan County Hospital.

“People catch it by physical contact and normally it has an incubation period of 1 to 3 days. It is very common in children, with symptoms of a reddish eye, a burning sensation, tears and so on,” he added.

To prevent the disease, Lin advised people to wash their hands as often as they could, not to rub their eyes, and no sharing of others’ hygienic products.