Pink eye infections on the rise in KwaZulu-Natal

Pink infections are sitting at over 20 000 according to the latest records of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.

PINK EYE CASES SURGE IN KWAZULU-NATAL

The first case of the pink eye infection was reported at the Mangosuthu University of Technology in February.

With the Easter long weekend coming up, the province is expected to have a lot of travellers naturally during the Easter weekends.

In an interview with Newzroom Afrika the HOD of KZN health Sandile Tshabalala stated that yesterday the province had recorded 20 781 new cases and these are just the cases that have been diagnosed.

“There is a very good likelihood that the numbers is higher, the 20 781 is mostly in eThekwini and in other districts you see few cases,” said Tshabalala.

Tshabalala stated that they believe that there are more case that are not being reported.

With excessive rate the pink eye is spreading across the province, according to Stats SA there is more than 12.4 million people living the province and about 4 million of that population is living in eThekwini.

Tshabalala stated that the reason why the infection rate is at its peak is because of how people are very close to each other and the spread of conjunctivitis is from hand to eye.

“When people touch or when people sneeze and cough on each other potentially it is the reason why the numbers are high in the eThekwini,” says Tshabalala.

The province is however still investigating on how did the conjunctivitis spread in eThekwini.

WHAT IS PINK EYE AND HOW CAN WE PREVENT IT

Pink Eye is the inflammation of the conjunctiva ,a membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball.

According to IOL, a general practitioner at Netcare Medicross Malvern,Dr Nishen Gounder stated that viral pink eye can be caused by various viruses, including the virus that causes the common cold symptoms. Pink eyes are very contagious.

It spreads through contact with infected secretions from the eye, and often the second eye becomes infected within 24 to 48 hours.

KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube stated that an intensive awareness campaign will be undertaken to educate the public about pink eye.

According to IOL the Department of Health in KZN said health education is ongoing in the waiting areas in facilities on hand hygiene and eye care.

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