Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Puerto Rico, 1981-1982.

In late 1981, the Western Hemisphere's pandemic of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis spread to Puerto Rico. Over 6,000 cases of conjunctivitis were reported to the Puerto Rico Department of Health from November 1981 to March 1982. Enterovirus 70 was isolated from one of 19 eye-swab specimens tested, and 10 of 13 (77%) individuals with acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis had neutralizing antibody titers to enterovirus 70 of greater than or equal to 1:4.