Kampala Grapples with Conjunctivitis Surge: Schools and Prisons Under Health Alert
An outbreak of conjunctivitis, often called red eyes, has been reported in Kampala District and prison facilities. This eye condition causes inflammation in the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane covering the eye’s white part and lining the eyelids.
Several schools in Kampala and eight prisons have been impacted. The affected divisions are Nakawa and Rubaga. The prisons include Luzira Upper Prison, Murchison Bay Prison, Kasanda Prison, Kaweeri Prison, Lira Main Prison, Erute Prison, Pader Prison, and Kampala Remand Prison.
Samples have been collected for bacterial and viral testing within Uganda.
As of March 13, 2024, 954 total cases were recorded, with 353 new cases. The Kampala City Council Authority and Ministry of Health teams are actively conducting joint surveillance efforts.
In the affected prisons, 790 cumulative cases were diagnosed, with 711 recoveries, indicating a 90% recovery rate. The Ministry revealed that new inmates brought by police initiate the in-custody transmission.
Conjunctivitis can be caused by viral infections, seasonal allergies, bacterial infections, or reactions to eye medications. The inflammation affects the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the eye’s white part and lining the eyelids.
There is a common eye disease called viral conjunctivitis. It spreads easily from one person to another. If someone has the infection, it can pass to others by direct touching or sharing items like towels or eye drops. Face-to-face contact also causes spreading.
People with viral conjunctivitis have redness in the white part of their eye or inner eyelid. They may have lots of tears, thick yellow eye discharge, itchy eyes, blurry vision, and light sensitivity. This infection is most contagious for the first 10–12 days, but it can last up to 3 weeks.
To stop the virus from spreading more, Uganda’s Health Ministry took several steps with partners. They promoted good hygiene and clean water access in affected schools. They watched Kampala closely for new cases. They treated infected people and taught the public how to avoid getting sick. Health workers learned how to find and handle red eye cases.
The Ministry told everyone to prevent viral conjunctivitis by keeping clean, washing hands often with soap and water, avoiding sick people’s faces and handshakes, and not sharing items like pillows or eye drops with infected persons.
