Mombasa declines lockdown despite rise in ‘red eye’ disease

Mombasa county government says it will not shut its borders with Tanzania and neighbouring counties nor issue lockdown orders following a surge in ‘red eye’ disease.

The Ministry of Health and the Mombasa county government yesterday issued an alert that the disease, also known as conjunctivitis, had affected scores of residents, including school going children.

The county health department cautioned residents to observe containment and preventive measures, including washing and sanitising of hands and avoiding contact with contaminated surfaces.

According to the County Director in charge of Public Health and Disease Prevention, Dr Salma Mohamed ruled out the possibility of closing the borders after it emerged that the disease is fast spreading to neighbouring counties, most likely transported by long distance truck drivers.

The county has issued circulars to churches, schools, markets to ensure they observe health measures. The disease is transmitted by touching one’s eyes after coming into contact with an infected person.

County data from public facilities shows over 1,000 people have so far contracted the disease in Mombasa alone in the last two days.

The patients are those that have presented themselves to public facilities.

80 patients were reported at Coast General Teaching and Referral hospital, 36 at Port Reitz,33 in Likoni and 200 cases from public hospitals including those that have not been documented .

The county has directed parents with school going children to keep their children at home, should they exhibit any symptoms of the disease, to avoid the spread terming the disease too contagious.

Dr Mohamed said the majority of infections have affected madrasas and schools and asked parents to keep their children at home to avoid infecting others. The county has discouraged the use of home remedies like concoctions and asks patients to visit hospitals.

 “Most cases have been coming from schools and Madrasas, our message is that if you see your child with any of the symptoms, please don’t take your child to school, let them stay at home because all the time they keep shaking hands and spreading the disease fast,” said Mohamed.

Rampant spread

The rampant spread is even following the flocking of learners in the Coast region to various health facilities to seek medical care for eye infections.

It is believed that the ‘red eye’ or ‘pink eye’ disease infections might have spread from neighbouring Tanzania. It is an eye condition caused by infection or allergies and usually gets better in a couple of weeks without treatment.

Swelling of eyes, redness ,itchiness of the eye, tearing, excessive discharge, and fevers headaches, flu symptoms, and swelling behind the neck these are the symptoms of the disease.

Maximum caution

Eye disease experts led by Dr Nadya Mustafa said ophthalmologist conjunctivitis, also known as ‘red eye’ or ‘pink eye’ is an condition caused by infection or allergies.

“The moment you contain the virus, you will be shading the virus up to two weeks, from incubation to up to five days is when you will start showing symptoms, the virus is active on surfaces for almost a month so we are calling for maximum caution,” said Mustafa.