More than 1,000 red eye infections recorded in Mombasa

Over 1000 cases of conjunctivitis also known as 'the red eye infection' have been recorded in Mombasa County prompting the county health department to issue an alert to area residents.

The infection, caused by viruses, bacteria, allergens or irritants, can affect one eye or both and has the following symptoms eye pain, swelling, itchiness, redness and eye discharge.

Mombasa County Health Officer Abdallah Deleno has since raised concerns about the potential for an increase in the number of cases.

He added that most of those affected are school going children and youth whom he has urged to observe hygiene practices to stop the disease , which has also affected other counties in the coastal region, from spreading.

"Yes we have Eye outbreak which is viral in nature caused by adeno virus which is common infection disease that has affected alot of our young kids and adults and the numbers are significant," Deleno told Citizen TV.  

"You're just supposed to use normal eye drops or boric acid which is perfect and it will just clear but in case someone feels like the eyes is sticky and it has some discharges then he needs to go to a clinic nearby ... We have already started the School health programme."

Despite assurance that there is no cause for alarm, Mombasa residents want the county to take awareness to public facilities to prevent a calamity.

"A person close to me has contracted the disease. It's scary how quickly the disease spreads once one person is infected," Dickson Kibagendi, a Mombasa resident, said.

In neighbouring Kilifi County, health officials have also issued a notice to residents urging them to wash hands with soap and water.

They have also urged locals to avoid touching or rubbing their eyes, refrain from sharing personal items, and to temporarily stop using contact lenses until approved by an eye doctor.

Kilifi Health CEC Peter Mwarogo has however underscored that there is no cause for alarm as the county has previously recorded cases of red eye infections ...

The outbreak, which was first reported in Tanzania in December seems to be spreading fast to other areas in the coastal line.

Tanzania has recorded an upsurge in the last three weeks with over 800 cases in Dar-es-Salaam.