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KAMPALA - A total of 7,596 cases of red eye disease have so far been detected in the country, with the Uganda Prison Services recording the largest number, 5,897, representing 78%, according to authorities at the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry together with the Uganda Prison Services, detected an outbreak of red eyes within the prisons of Kasanda, Kaweeri, Lira Main, Erute, and Kampala remand prisons in February this year.

Since then, cases have continued to spread to schools in Kampala and other districts, including Mbale, Arua City, and Kagadi, starting on February 14 this year.

As of April 7, 2024, Uganda Prison Services had registered at least 4,858 recoveries, while 1,044 cases were under isolation.

Kampala has registered a total of 2,761 cases of red eyes.

The majority of cases were reported in Nakawa Division (1,258), followed by Makindye (446). Of the 2,168 cases, males accounted for the highest proportion, with 1,062 identified in prisons followed by 700 cases in schools.

Children to stay in schools

Speaking during an interview on Monday, April 15, at the Ministry of Health, Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, the Director of Public Health, cautioned schools against sending children with red eyes back home.

Instead, he advised school nurses to promote hygiene and interpersonal injection control and isolate sick children.

Kyabayinze noted that many people have resorted to self-medication with unethical and unclean methods.

He stressed the importance of maintaining clean hands, personal hygiene, washing hands with clean water, and self-isolation in handling current cases of red eyes.

About conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, clear layer covering the white surface of the eye and the inner eyelid. When inflamed, the blood vessels enlarge, making the eye appear red.

The first cases of conjunctivitis in Kampala were identified in prisons on March 3, 2024, leading to a notification to KCCA on March 7, 2024.

On March 11, KCCA received an alert from a primary school in Rubaga Division, prompting school-based surveillance and follow-up investigations. Written notifications were sent to heads of educational institutions recommending control measures, including hand hygiene.

By March 30, a total of 16 schools in Kampala city reported cases of red eyes, with 12 primary and four secondary schools affected.

KCCA's Directorate of Education has facilitated affected schools' linkage to expert clinicians and ophthalmologists for appropriate case management. Medical supplies were also dispatched to prisons through Joint Medical Stores.

How to avoid red eyes

Important is maintaining high sanitation standards, frequent handwashing with clean water and soap, avoiding direct contact with infected persons, particularly touching the eyes and shaking hands.

"There are many cases, especially in schools, but the red eye is not life-threatening, so people should not put other things on their eyes because the eye has a very fine membrane called the cornea, you can cause corneal injuries which leads to blindness," Kyabayinze emphasised.

The most common symptom of conjunctivitis is red eyes. Other symptoms include discharge on eyelids, watery eyes, a sandy or scratchy feeling in the eye, sensitivity to light, and eye pain.