Malawi reports surge of viral conjunctivitis cases

KARONGA, Malawi, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Viral conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, has worsened in Malawi's northern district of Karonga, where more than 3,000 cases of the disease have been confirmed and over 10 cases of vision loss have been reported.

Updated figures from the district health office show that 352 cases were recorded on Monday alone, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the district to 3,147, reported from 8 health facilities. A total of 11 infected people have lost their eyesight.

The disease was first reported in Karonga District in mid-February before spreading to other districts in the Central Region and later to the Southern Region.

On Feb. 29, Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda ordered the suspension of handshakes, among other hygiene measures, to contain the outbreak.

The Ministry of Health has yet to release updated figures on the disease at the national level, but the Ministry of Education has said 3,570 students in the country have been affected so far.

Local media quoted Mphatso Nkuonera, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, as saying on Tuesday that of the 3,570 students, 3,492 are in primary school while 78 are in secondary school.

Conjunctivitis is a viral/bacterial disease and its symptoms include inflammation of the transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball, redness, itching, and discharge from the eye.