Tally crosses 16,000 mark across J&K
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Aug 12: As cases of conjunctivitis continue to rise across Kashmir, officials today said that as of now there was no specific age group predominantly affected by the eye infection which is contagious in nature.
According to details, the number of conjunctivitis cases has rapidly increased in Valley districts, with Budgam witnessing cases in the 10-30 age group, while in Srinagar, cases have primarily been observed in adults. “But we can largely say that people of all age groups are being affected by the infection, with no specific age group showing dominance,” stated the officials.
Regarding corneal infiltrates in such cases, officials mentioned that these have not been observed in most districts, except for Shopian and Kupwara, where cases with corneal infiltrates, defined as single or groups of inflammatory cells in the normally clear cornea, have been reported.
Dr Mir Mushtaq, DHSK spokesperson, told Excelsior that conjunctivitis cases are being reported across the country, including the Jammu and Kashmir divisions. “We are closely monitoring the situation and providing necessary treatment to affected individuals; the hospitals are fully equipped to handle these cases,” he assured.
Officials further explained that the infection typically resolves within a varying time frame after treatment initiation. “Among the reported cases, we’ve observed it getting resolved within 2-3 weeks in some instances, while in others, it has taken 4-10 days,” stated the officials responsible for managing cases.
Regarding actions taken on the ground, officials indicated that in areas with scattered cases, treatment has been provided on an individual basis. In areas with a higher concentration of cases, various awareness-based activities have been implemented. These efforts include educating the community about hygiene, symptom reporting, infection transmissibility, proper hand hygiene practices, and screening close contacts.
As the number of cases crossed the 15,000 mark across J&K on Friday, Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr Rajeev Kumar Sharma, while sharing the latest figures today, informed that the number of reported cases in the Jammu Division has reached 10,229.
In Kashmir, as per the latest figures shared by the DHSK, the total number of conjunctivitis cases has reached 6172, with Baramulla recording the highest number of 1063 cases. With this, the tally of total cases reported across J&K has reached 16401.
In terms of the district-wise breakdown of the numbers, 1113 cases have been reported in Anantnag, 15 from Bandipora, 606 from Budgam, 302 from Ganderbal, 164 from Kulgam, 436 from Kupwara, 1004 from Pulwama, 630 from Shopian, and 839 from Srinagar.
Furthermore, officials said that the Health Department has implemented various measures to control the spread of conjunctivitis. These measures include establishing protocols for isolating and quarantining individuals with infectious conjunctivitis to prevent its spread, as well as providing infection control guidelines to healthcare facilities to prevent nosocomial transmission of conjunctivitis.
“We are also collaborating with educational institutions for preventive measures, prompt case reporting, and safe return-to-school guidance, ensuring an adequate supply of medications and resources for treating the infection,” officials said. They added that a well-established emergency response plan for severe outbreaks or public health emergencies related to conjunctivitis has been put in place.
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