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KAMPALA - Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has urged the public to take precautionary measures, including regular washing of hands, to prevent the spread of highly infectious red eye disease following an outbreak in some schools within Kampala.

In a letter dated March 13, 2024, to all head teachers of government and private educational facilities, Charles Bonnie Maginot, said they had been alerted by the Director of Public Health, of an outbreak of conjunctivitis (red eye) disease in Kampala.

“Cases have already been reported in some schools and educational institutions, in the interim measure, you are accordingly guided by our health team to re-activate the existing infection prevention measures in schools including the following; frequent handwashing with water and soap; avoid touching or rubbing eyes; avoid shaking hands and close contact with one another; ensure screening of visitors coming to the schools and institutions,” Maginot said.

All schools and institutions were urged to report cases to the nearest health facility or call the KCCA toll-free line 0800299000.

“The Director Public Health and Environment will in due course, issue comprehensive guidelines on the management of this outbreak,” Maginot added in his letter copied to the KCCA executive director and her deputy, as well as the Director Public Health and Environment. 

Dr Abel Kafeero noted that conjunctivitis can be caused by various conditions. “It can be caused by bacterial infection, traumatic conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis but the most common is bacterial,” he said.

He said conjunctivitis can spread rapidly and is quick to infect children, who would then pass it on to adults.

“Close contact with the infected person or sharing personal items with infected people can pass the illness on more easily,” he added. He said the disease presents with red watery eyes.

He revealed that the treatment depends on the cause and the severity of the disease.

“In minor cases, we normally use tropical anti-biotics alone and painkillers. If the condition is so terrible, we call for systematic biotics which we give through the vein and we can use broad spectrum anti-biotics or the definitive anti-biotics when the exact bacterial cause is known,” he added.

He warned that if treatment is not done in time, it may have disastrous consequences and lead to blindness.

In February this year, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania also announced the outbreak of conjunctivitis. Rwanda cautioned those infected to avoid swimming in public water pools and sharing sanitation and other materials.

Sharing of beddings for family members infected with the disease was also discouraged.