East African Gazette
Kampala
The directorate of public health at Kampala Capital City Authority has announced an outbreak of conjunctivitis red eyes in Kampala.
In Kampala cases have already been reported in some of the schools and education institution, a statement issued by the directorate of education and social services has said.
In the interim you are accordingly guided by our health teams to re-activate the existing infection prevention measures in schools.
According to the acting director of education and social services Charles Bonnie, all schools should institute frequent hand washing with water and soap, avoiding touching or rubbing your eyes, avoid shaking hands and close contact with each other.
Bonnie advised schools to screen visitors and also to report the suspected cases to the nearest health facility or report to 0800299000
The director of Public Health and Environment will in due course issue comprehensive guidelines on management of the outbreak, the statement reads in parts
According to the director general health services in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Daniel Kyabayinize several schools in Kampala and eight prison facilities in the city, have been identified with the diseases.
The affected divisions in Kampala include Rubaga, Nakawa.
The eight affected prisons include Luzira upper prison, Murchison Bay, Kassanda. Kaweero , Lira Main, Erute, Pader and Kampala Remand.
“As per surveillance and laboratory reports, some suspected individuals have been collected and bacterial viral laboratory testing within Uganda, “the statement issued by Kyabayinize indicates.
As of 13 March, a total 954 cumulative cases registered with an incidence of 365.
Joint surveillance efforts between Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Ministry of Health teams are actively underway so far, a total of 790 cases cumulatively have been diagnosed in affected prison facilities of which 711 have been declared as recovered giving a recovery rate of 90%.
The incident cases are mainly admitted as new inmates by police who initiate the cascade of in custody transmission.