A recent epidemic of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis

The coxsackievirus A24 variant was implicated in four of six major acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreaks in Singapore since its discovery in 1970. Hela cell suspension in 24-well flat-bottom tissue culture plates was a satisfactory alternative to monolayer cells grown in test tubes for virus isolation. Respiratory illness occurred in 20 of 98 patients with acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. Apart from conjunctival secretions, respiratory and oral transmission of coxsackievirus A24 variant would explain the rapid and extensive spread of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis during an outbreak.