PESHAWAR: An outbreak of eye infection, Conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye,” has swept across flood-affected districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with 22,863 cases reported in August alone, the provincial health department said.
Authorities have issued an advisory urging affected individuals to self-isolate to curb further spread.
Lady Reading Hospital, the province’s largest healthcare facility, is receiving over 150 patients daily, with five ophthalmology doctors also infected. Khyber Teaching Hospital reports 60–70 cases per day, while Hayatabad Medical Complex sees around 80 daily patients.
From January to August 2025, a total of 97,212 cases were reported across K-P, with the highest numbers in Nowshera, Peshawar, Swat, Shangla, Battagram, Mardan, and Buner. Health officials said the recent floods have significantly contributed to the surge, particularly in the hardest-hit areas.
In August, Swat recorded 4,204 cases, followed by Peshawar (2,254), Buner (1,743), Shangla (1,689), Lower Dir (1,484), Nowshera (1,194), Battagram (1,080), and Malakand (1,235).
Hospitals said most patients are being treated in wards, with strict sterilization protocols in place to prevent cross-infection. The Health Department warned that the infection spreads rapidly, similar to the flu, and advised patients to keep bedding, pillows, and towels separate and use sunglasses or protective eyewear in sunlight. Experts noted that the infection generally lasts up to a week.
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