Grenada on alert over spread of 'red eye' outbreak

The Surveillance Unit within Grenada’s Ministry of Health has confirm that it is actively monitoring an outbreak of viral conjunctivitis – also known as red eye or pink eye – in the region.

The unit’s head, Dr. Shawn Charles, explained the situation to members of the ministry’s Surveillance Taskforce during its monthly meeting.

General practitioners in the overseas territories of the Netherlands have reported an increased incidence in the last month.

According to international surveillance reports, the number of medical consultations due to conjunctivitis during recent weeks was estimated at between 500 and 600 cases per week in Guadeloupe, and 150 to 250 cases per week in Martinique.

Prevention where possible

Outbreaks of viral conjunctivitis occur mainly in tropical countries with high population density and a hot, humid climate.

Since the Chikungunya outbreak a few years ago, Grenada has had an active surveillance and monitoring system that has proven to be effective in subsequent outbreaks, like that of the zika virus.

The island’s health ministry is encouraging people to take all necessary and preventative measures to avoid becoming infected.

Red eye is very contagious – it can easily be spread from person to person – but it can be effectively treated at home.

The germs are passed on to others through hand-to-hand contact when hands are not washed after contact with discharge from an infected eye.

Symptoms include redness or swelling of the white of the eye or inside the eyelid, watering eye and excess tears, increased sensitivity to light, and pus or discharge from the eyelids which result in eyelids being stuck together.