South Sudanese health officials announced on Monday an outbreak of conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, along the border with Uganda.
Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng stated that the outbreak was first identified among travelers from neighboring Uganda, where similar cases had been reported. The ministry declared the outbreak in March.
In a statement, she mentioned that health authorities in Nimule, a border town between South Sudan and Uganda, have intensified surveillance at the main entry point to identify suspected cases, collect samples for confirmation of the causative agent, and manage suspected cases at nearby health facilities.
Conjunctivitis, characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva and inner eyelids, can be caused by various factors, including viral and bacterial infections, seasonal allergies, and reactions to eye medications.
As of April, the minister reported that a total of 382 suspected cases had been screened and managed, with 297 cases detected at the Nimule point of entry and 85 cases at Nimule hospital, in addition to other cases in the national capital of Juba.
Deng emphasized that viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can spread easily through direct physical contact, sharing personal items like towels and pillowcases, or even sharing eye drops or eyeglasses.
Symptoms may include redness on the thin white layer of the eye or inner surfaces of the eyelid, increased tear production, thick yellow discharge over the eyelashes, itching, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light. The contagious period is within the first 10 to 12 days, with the infection potentially lasting up to three weeks.
Deng stated that several measures have been initiated, including promoting personal hygiene and water, sanitation, and hygiene activities in Nimule, strengthening surveillance, managing and treating affected individuals, educating the public about the disease and prevention measures, and training healthcare workers to investigate and respond to cases of red eye disease.
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