'Madras Eye' on the prowl

By G Saravanan
Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on July 10, 2011:
Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/madras-eye-on-the-prowl/292648.html
CHENNAI: As the seasonal disease Conjunctivitis, commonly known as ‘Madras Eye’ is slowly spreading in the city, Corporation officials here on Saturday ordered closure of its two swimming pools located at the Marina Beach and My Lady’s Park, Periamet, to prevent its spread.
‘Madras Eye’ is a contagious disease spreading from person to person through several means. Chances of contracting the disease by swimming pool users are said to be relatively high when persons affected by conjunctivitis use the pool.

Speaking to Express, D Karthikeyan, Corporation Commissioner, said, “Though the disease is prevalent only minimally in the city, the civic body is taking all precautions to stop its spreading, and hence the closure of swimming pools.”
“The Health Department of the Corporation has been asked to map the area from where the disease was most reported, and it would be used to launch a systematic approach to arrest the spread of the disease,” Karthikeyan told Express.

Besides mapping, the high prevalence areas like swimming pools managed by private parties and the Sport Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) would also be monitored by the City’s Health Department.

It may be noted that the city, besides the civic body’s two facilities, has over 20 swimming pools dotted across the city and suburbs.
About 1,000 people use the civic body’s two pools every day and in weekends, the figure doubles. Both the pools that were closed on Saturday are likely to be re-opened in a couple of days after change of water.