Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis
Version: November 2025
Introduction
Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) is a highly contagious eye infection characterized by sudden onset of painful, red eyes with watery discharge. It typically occurs in epidemics and is caused by enteroviruses, particularly Coxsackievirus A24 and Enterovirus 70. The condition presents with subconjunctival hemorrhages, which give the eyes a bloodshot appearance. Symptoms may also include itching, eyelid swelling, and sensitivity to light. Spread mainly through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or secretions, AHC necessitates rigorous hygiene practices to prevent transmission. While uncomfortable, the infection is usually self-limiting, resolving within 7-10 days without permanent damage.
Highlights
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Decline in Cases: From the peak of 125,264 cases in September 2023, the number of Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis cases drastically decreased to 1,765 by November 2025.
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Recent Stability: Case numbers are stabilizing post-2023, with lower counts observed consistently through 2025.
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Low Mortality: The disease maintains a low mortality rate, with deaths only sporadically reported in 2019 and 2020.
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Seasonal Patterns: Higher cases are typically seen during summer months, although this trend has become less marked in recent years compared to earlier data.
Analysis
Cases Analysis
Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in mainland China exhibits notable fluctuations from 2015 to 2025. Starting in late 2015, cases showed a steady increase that peaked in July 2019, reaching 5,265 cases. One death was reported in August 2019, during a period of heightened cases, highlighting a critical phase of the disease’s impact. Post-July 2019, cases began a substantial decline, stabilizing at around 2,000 to 3,000 monthly cases by November 2020. This stabilization may suggest effective interventions or natural epidemiological cycles aiding in disease control.
In June 2023, cases surged dramatically, peaking in September at 125,264 cases, marking an unprecedented outbreak. This sudden increase may stem from factors like seasonal influences, a novel viral strain, or a lapse in preventive measures. The quick return to lower case numbers by November 2023 indicates an effective rapid response to the outbreak. Subsequently, the trend returned to lower figures, mirroring pre-surge levels.
Overall, the trends reveal seasonal variations alongside sporadic spikes, emphasizing the need for vigilant surveillance and fluid response strategies in public health. These fluctuations necessitate consistent monitoring and agile actions, especially during periods of potential outbreaks, to mitigate impact and prevent recurrence of heightened incidence. This data is crucial for understanding the disease’s cycle and ensuring readiness against future surges.
Deaths Analysis
The dataset on Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis (AHC) in mainland China from November 2015 to October 2025 reveals consistent trends in case numbers and the rarity of deaths due to the disease. Between late 2015 and early 2020, reported cases fluctuated, reflecting possible seasonal patterns, yet no deaths were recorded. This suggests the benign nature of the illness or effective healthcare management in preventing severe outcomes. Notable deviations include a single death in August 2019 and two deaths in February 2020, marking the only occurrences of mortality in the entire dataset.
From 2020 to 2025, the trend continued with fluctuating case numbers and no additional fatalities, despite significant anomalies like the surge from June to September 2023. During this period, cases peaked dramatically at over 125,000 in September 2023, presenting a stark anomaly compared to typical monthly reports. Nevertheless, even amid this spike, mortality remained absent, indicating factors that led to increased transmission did not necessarily correlate with increased virulence or fatal complications. The persistent absence of deaths suggests mortality related to AHC is extremely rare. This likely reflects improvements in clinical management, treatment strategies, and public health measures over the decade covered by this data, underscoring an effective response to the disease despite its contagious nature.