Fact Check: Is viral conjunctivitis as deadly as Covid-19?

Hyderabad: A video has gone on viral social media that claims conjunctivitis infection is deadlier than Covid-19.

According to the viral Facebook Reel, doctors are not able to bring this condition under control. The post claims that conjunctivitis can turn into an epidemic like the one brought about by coronavirus if the doctors don’t bring the cases under control.

The viral post also claims that conjunctivitis is a new virus whose spread increases during the rainy season.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false.

NewsMeter contacted Dr Loknath Mohanty, assistant professor, Department of Ophthalmology, IMS-SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar to provide insights on the conjunctivitis infection.

He said, “Viral conjunctivitis, commonly known as ‘pink eye’ is a highly contagious eye infection that affects the conjunctiva, the thin and transparent tissue covering the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. It is one of the most common eye conditions worldwide, particularly in children, but can affect people of all ages.”

We then contacted Dr Priyajeet Panigrahi, an ENT specialist to debunk the claim.

“No, viral conjunctivitis is not a new infection. We have been suffering from the pink eye or eye flu since childhood after rainy seasons. I don’t see a point in comparing conjunctivitis with a pandemic like Covid-19. Recently, the cases of conjunctivitis increased suddenly for a brief period but now have subsided to a controllable level,” the doctor said.

“Conjunctivitis is not a disease to be worried about. It is merely an infection that troubles your eyes for 2-3 days and if properly treated with medication the infection subsides,” the doctor added.

To know about conjunctivitis in detail, watch this interview by Dr Kuldeep Raizada.

Hence, we can say that conjunctivitis is not something to be feared as Covid-19.