An outbreak of conjunctivitis that affected more than 1,000 employees at a factory owned by Foxconn, the world's largest electronics manufacturer, is under control, Shenzhen's disease control and prevention center said Thursday.

Jiang Lijuan, a spokeswoman from the center, said that the monthlong outbreak is under control after all contagious employees had been quarantined for four weeks.

She said other large factories in Bao'an and Longgang districts had also been affected in the past two months, but refused to name them.

"The infection has also been widely reported in major hospitals during the past month, but it's easy to cure with necessary treatment," said Jiang.

More than 1,000 employees at Foxconn, Taiwan's manufacturing goliath, most of them assembly line workers, were quarantined after being infected with the disease.

Foxconn, owned by Taiwanese tycoon Guo Taimin, is the largest manufacturer of electronics and computer components worldwide.

It employs some 200,000 employees in Shenzhen, including 130,000 assembly line workers at its Bao'an factory. One staff member surnamed Li from the company said the E tower of its staff dormitory had been used to house the 1,000 infected people. Around half of the cured workers were released during the past month.

"The tower was cordoned off in early August," said Li.

Those quarantined in the tower are prohibited to walk out to avoid spreading the disease. Food and medical deliveries are provided.

"The confined eat in the cafeteria inside the building and doctors are also available in the building to treat them," Li said, saying that those cured are then allowed to go back to work.

Staff from Foxconn's health department said Thursday that it is not convenient for them to disclose the latest progress of the contagion.

The company's spokesman surnamed Li refused to comment whether the epidemic had affected their production.

In early August, more than 1,000 Foxconn workers were quarantined in a budget hotel outside the factory after contracting the disease.

They were later moved to the E tower due to the soaring number of patients and limited spaces.

The city's health authority suggests people frequently wash hands and avoid rubbing eyes with hands.

(Shenzhen Daily September 7, 2007)