Commonground
Senior Moderator
Jul 25, 2026
Kolkata: Hundreds across Kolkata have been left with red, swollen and sticky eyes, thanks to a twin outbreak of viral conjunctivitis and seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.
-snip-
This time, the outbreak has a new strain — microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis — a rare surface infection of the eye caused by microsporidia, which are microscopic, spore-forming intracellular parasites (now classified as fungi). It causes inflammation of both the retina and cornea.
-snip-
While it could be triggered by bacteria, some viruses, or allergies, adenovirus, a respiratory virus that often affects kids, could trigger severe conjunctivitis. “This time, however, we have not received adenovirus-triggered cases. This time, it has been triggered by other viruses so far. We have seen an unusually long viral spread this time and the weather conditions remain conducive for a range of viral infections including Influenza A and swine flu. These infections are accompanied by conjunctivitis and we have received several such patients,” said Charnock Hospital head pulmonologist Soumya Sengupta.
continued: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...es-see-a-surge/articleshowprint/132632150.cms
Kolkata: Hundreds across Kolkata have been left with red, swollen and sticky eyes, thanks to a twin outbreak of viral conjunctivitis and seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.
-snip-
This time, the outbreak has a new strain — microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis — a rare surface infection of the eye caused by microsporidia, which are microscopic, spore-forming intracellular parasites (now classified as fungi). It causes inflammation of both the retina and cornea.
-snip-
While it could be triggered by bacteria, some viruses, or allergies, adenovirus, a respiratory virus that often affects kids, could trigger severe conjunctivitis. “This time, however, we have not received adenovirus-triggered cases. This time, it has been triggered by other viruses so far. We have seen an unusually long viral spread this time and the weather conditions remain conducive for a range of viral infections including Influenza A and swine flu. These infections are accompanied by conjunctivitis and we have received several such patients,” said Charnock Hospital head pulmonologist Soumya Sengupta.
continued: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...es-see-a-surge/articleshowprint/132632150.cms