An outbreak of pink-eye disease has been reported across Taiwan.

With people rushing to beaches and swimming pools in the heat of summer, doctors warn that more cases of infection are expected. Symptom of this disease include eye redness, irritation and itchiness.

Pink eye disease is back. After an outbreak across campuses in 2007, this disease, formally known as conjunctivitis, has returned and peaked in June.

Many schoolchildren have been affected, showing symptoms like eye redness, itching and tearing more than usual.

A Taichung Eye Clinic recently saw more than 100 pink-eye patients a day and a hospital in Kaohsiung saw a 5-fold increase in pink-eye victims. During the summer vacation, children

flood to water theme parks, and the pools there serve as ideal breeding grounds for infection.

Eye doctors warn that it takes a long time for pink-eye patients to fully recover. And frequent hand-washing, as well as avoidance of eye rubbing are strongly advised to keep this disease at bay.