The spread of red eye or Madras eye or in other words conjunctivitis has still not come under control in the City. One who is stricken by this problem now is the district chief also.

This means even the deputy commissioner and district magistrate S R Umashanker is also a victim to ‘Madras eye.’

Hence he is on leave till Tuesday as he feels that it is contagious.

He might have caught it from anyone who comes to meet him, it is said. The doctors also agree that it is due to the ignorance of the people that the whole district is plagued by this problem.

Lack of awareness

This is one of the fastest spreading communicable disease. One who is suffering from Madras eye or conjunctivitis should keep away from other people. But in spite of Bangalore being so close such an awareness does not seem to exist among the citizens here.

As a result lots of children and hundreds of people are becoming victims to this infection. If the people suffering from this infection keep away for about four to five days visit an eye specialist get eye drops and treatment then its spread can be contained.

But the people have a devil-may-care attitude about this often saying what can such an infection do.

Dark glasses

The reason for its spread is because they do not use dark classes and move about nonchalantly in public places.

At least now the health department should wake up and try to create more awareness regarding this problem.

Till now such an awareness programme has not happened in Tumkur, the district centre.