Malawi records 6 600 pink eye cases in 2 weeks

Malawi continues to register rising cases of pink eye disease as about 6 651 cases have been recorded in the past two weeks in the country’s 26 districts.

The new cases have led the cumulative number of cases to jump from 6 768 cases to 13 419 cases as of Saturday. No death has been recorded so far.

According to the Public Health Institute of Malawi daily viral conjunctivitis update, on Saturday alone, the country recorded 106 new cases.

Commenting on the issue in an interview yesterday, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences lecturer in Environmental Health Save Kumwenda stressed the need to enhance hygiene awareness, particularly hand-washing with soap after touching dirt and handshakes with people if the country is to win the conjunctivitis fight.

He further advised conjunctivitis patients to visit hospitals as soon as possible to seek medical attention.

“Hand-washing should be done before touching the eyes. Personal hygiene like bathing and washing clothes and bedding should be enhanced. If we can step up hand-washing with soap and stop handshaking just like we did during the Covid-19  time, the transmission rates for pink eye can be greatly reduced,” said Kumwenda, who is also Malawi Environmental Health Association president.

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva in the eye and its most common causes are viral, allergic and bacterial. A majority of cases are caused by a virus.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe is on record having admitted that not much has been done in terms of raising awareness on the disease.

He said the ministry had been struggling with other interventions such as fighting cholera, but was quick to point out that preventing or fighting pink eye is about promoting hygiene and avoiding handshakes, sharing spectacles, towels and other facial items.

The disease is transmitted through contact with an infected persons or contaminated objects. The disease causes itching of the eyes, tempting one to scratch or touch the eyes.

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

The first case of the viral conjunctivitis was confirmed on February 1 2024 in Karonga District.