Frontiers in Public Health
Uncommon pathogen, common activity: Streptococcus pneumoniae conjunctivitis outbreak traced to a primary school field trip
Background In December 2025, an outbreak of acute conjunctivitis emerged at a primary school in Hangzhou, China, affecting 48 students and yielding an attack rate of 2. 16%. The outbreak is of particular significance as it was attributed to Streptococcus pneumoniae , a pathogen seldom implicated in large-scale conjunctivitis outbreaks among school-aged children. Methods An epidemiological investigation, a case-control study, and laboratory analyses—comprising multiplex real-time PCR and bacterial culture—were condu …