Lice and pinkeye (and cooties) are the diseases we associate with children in grades school. But typically that means a few cases per class throughout the year—contagious and annoying, but manageable. Well the strain of conjunctivitis (pink eye) in American Samoa right now apparently has a flair for the dramatic, because an estimated 18% of students on the island have it (that’s 2,300 of 13,000 students), along with 30% of teachers. Oozing red eyes from all directions! Most schools on the island have shut down until next week in attempts to contain the epidemic.
But the dastardly disease isn’t content simply to bully children and teachers, it has affected many facets of institutional life. The epidemic is causing postponement of court hearings, and visitors to courts are being screened for the condition. Even Hawaiian Airlines, the sole carrier connecting flights to and from the U.S., has turned away symptomatic passengers from flights—leaving them marooned on the itchy island.
Pink eye has really occupied the limelight recently. You may remember that NBC newscaster Bob Costas was down for the count with the affliction during much of the Olympic games. And it was the unfortunate—and completely foreseeable—side effect of the bizarre eye-licking fetish in Japan last year.
If treated, conjunctivitis—which can be caused by viruses, bacteria or allergens—isn’t dangerous. But it is uncomfortable, gross and highly contagious. So please, symptomatic school children stay at home, airlines wipe down those seats, and Japanese people, stop sticking your tongues in other people’s eyes.
Image: commons.wikimedia.org.
