By Samira Mohammed
A public advisory has been released by the Mombasa County Government, advising the public to emphasize strict hygiene standards due to a rise in occurrences of conjunctivitis, also known as ‘Pink Eye Infection’. The County Department of Health Services expressed concerns in an official statement over the concerning increase in instances of this extremely infectious and contagious disease. Conjunctivitis can be triggered by various factors such as viruses, bacteria, allergens, or irritants, manifesting to eye pain, swelling, redness, itchiness, and eye discharge.
The County Government has instructed residents to follow stringent cleanliness guidelines in order to curb the infection from spreading. These precautions include sharing personal items such towels, pillowcases, eye drops, or makeup; not touching or rubbing the eyes and face; and routinely and thoroughly washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
The advisory also emphasizes the infectious nature of Conjunctivitis, highlighting the importance of covering the nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing, proper disposal of tissues, frequent disinfection of surfaces that are regularly touched, and the use of sunglasses to reduce further eye irritation.
Residents who experience symptoms such as redness, itching, blurred vision, or eye discharge are urged to seek immediate medical attention to prevent the spread of the infection.
Following a recent outbreak of conjunctivitis in the neighboring country Tanzania, that forced the country’s health authorities to declare a high alert, the County Government has called for increased hygienic regulations.
With this period of increased infection risk, the goal of these preventive actions is to stop the spread of conjunctivitis and safeguard the well-being of residents in Mombasa County.