Malawi has confirmed an outbreak of viral conjunctivitis, or pink eye, in the Karonga district, with 109 cases reported since 1 February.
The disease was first identified among long-distance travellers from neighbouring Tanzania, officials at the Songwe border post, and later within the community, Karonga’s director of health services, David Sibale, said.
An outbreak of viral conjunctivitis was reported in Tanzania in mid-January.
By the end of the month, it had spread to 17 regions in both the mainland and the islands of Zanzibar, with more than 5,000 cases recorded.
Kenya, Comoros, Madagascar and Mayotte have also recorded cases.
Rwanda’s ministry of health issued an alert on Sunday, urging the public to take precautionary measures.
Viral conjunctivitis affects the eyes and can easily spread from one person to another.
Infected people can have a pink or red colour in the white part of their eye, swelling of the conjunctiva (eye lining), increased production of tears, itching, pain, and difficulty seeing.
With good hygiene and avoiding contact with infected people, it tends to heal on its own.
Source:Fiilafmonline/BBC
