The County Government of Mombasa has urged residents to prioritise hygiene measures as the county deals with increased cases of Conjunctivitis, commonly known as the Red Eye.

The County Department of Health Services in a statement on Monday highlighted the alarming incidences of highly contagious and infectious disease.

The Red Eye can be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergens, or irritants, and is characterised by symptoms such as eye pain, swelling, redness, itchiness, and eye discharge.

To curb the spread of the infection, Mombasa County has advised citizens to adhere to stringent hygiene measures.

This includes frequent hand washing with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, avoiding the touching or rubbing of eyes and face, and abstaining from sharing personal items like towels, pillowcases, eye drops, or makeup.  

These preventive measures aim to curb the spread of Red Eye as the infection spreads quickly, causing fear and anxiety among the residents of Mombasa County.

The alert emphasises the infectious nature of red eye, stressing the importance of covering the nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing, proper disposal of tissues, disinfecting surfaces regularly touched, and wearing sunglasses to alleviate further eye irritation.

Residents experiencing symptoms such as redness, itching, blurred vision, or eye discharge are urged to seek immediate medical attention.

On Monday, neighbouring Tanzania health authorities issued a high alert over the outbreak.