Blantyre registers 353 pink eye cases

 Blantyre District health promotion officer Chrissy Banda says the district has registered 353 viral conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye disease cases.

She said this on Friday in Blantyre during a community awareness meeting Blantyre District Health Office (DHO)organised at Chichiri Prison.

Banda said out of 353 cases, the prison recorded 61.

She said it was worrisome that the disease was spreading fast at the prison and appealed to partners to support the facility to contain the situation by providing hand-washing facilities.

Said Banda: “The 353 cases were reported from Chichiri Prison, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and other health facilities. However, efforts are being made to prevent the disease from spreading further.

“Currently, we are doing active surveillance of cases and disseminating messages through health workers in communities.”

She advised people to follow preventive measures to protect themselves from the viral infection.

“People should avoid using unprescribed medications, herbs, touching or rubbing eyes and sharing personal things such as eye glasses and towels that can transmit the infection,” she said.

Chichiri Prison assistant Superintendent Thomas Katambo commended Blantyre DHO for taking the messages to the prison.

“We thank the DHO for responding fast when we reported to them about the situation at the facility,” he said.

Viral conjunctivitis is a disease which affects eyes and it is caused by a virus that can easily spread from person to person.

Signs and symptoms include pink or red colour in the white part of the eye, swelling of the conjunctiva (eye lining), increased tear production, itching, eye discharge and visual disturbance.

Karonga was the first district to register pink eye cases in February this year. Since then, the cases have spread to Chitipa, Nkhata Bay, Mzimba, Likoma, Nkhotakota and Blantyre