BAGUIO CITY — Provincial health authorities in Cagayan on Friday raised the alarm as they recorded more than 1,000 cases of sore eyes in just a month.

According to Cagayan Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance coordinator Nestor Santiago, the total number of sore eyes in the province already reaches to 1,150 based from the consolidated data taken from the third week of August until this week of September.

Sore eyes or conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva or the tissue that covers the eyes and lines inside the eyelids due to viral or bacterial infections.

Santiago said there are three types of sore eyes — the allergic conjunctivitis which is not transmissible, second is the viral conjunctivitis and the third is bacterial conjunctivitis.

The last two types, he explained, are infectious.

He also said that most of the cases of sore eyes from the third week of August to September are from the different elementary schools in the 22 municipalities of Cagayan, adding that they are anticipating that the number will rise up once they will get more data from the rest of the municipalities of the province.

Cagayan has 28 municipalities.

According to the epidemiology officer, the transmission hastened in schools since the school year started last month as the pupils have direct contact with each other, adding that the number of cases logged can be interpreted to an   outbreak.

However, he clarified that there are guidelines and requirements yet to be considered before declaring an outbreak.