Rwanda Biomedical Centre has issued a public health alert after an outbreak of an infectious eye disease which has been confirmed in two countries in the East African region. Rwanda has not recorded a case of the infectious disease, according to health officials. The Ministry of Health issued the alert on February 11. Rwanda’s eastern neighbour Tanzania, which issued an outbreak alert on January 16, has recorded more than 5,300 cases, most of them in the economic capital of Dar es Salaam. In Kenya, health authorities confirmed more than 1,000 cases as of January 31. ALSO READ: Beware of eye diseases in children The red eye or pink eye disease, scientifically known as conjunctivitis is caused by adenovirus and spread through close contact with a person who has symptoms, such as itchiness, redness and a discharge form one or both eyes, sensitivity to light, among others. Delayed treatment could result in blindness and respiratory diseases. “We have sensitized the general population through prevention guides to adhere to prevention control measures,” Dr Edson Rwagasore, who heads RBC’s division for public health surveillance and emergency preparedness, told The New Times. ALSO READ: How one hospital in rural Rwanda is becoming an eye care hub Rwagasore said the management of high-risk points of entry, the border with Tanzania and Kigali International Airport, were briefed on the prevention measures. He said people with the symptoms should avoid public gathering and seek medical support. One of the preventive measures recommended by the RBC is avoiding using swimming pools if they have one or more symptoms of the red eye disease. Shaking hands, sharing the same bed and eyeglasses, towels or using the same devices with a person with the red eye symptoms can also spread the disease. “The disease resolves by itself, you are advised to avoid traumatizing your eyes by extensive rub, avoid medications or any traditional remedies that can make the condition worse,” Rwagasore said. “As we usually like to mention ‘prevention is better than cure’, as such I would like to encourage the general public to abide by the prevention guidelines shared through various sources,” he said. Rwanda last recorded cases of the infectious eye disease in 2012.
