Warrap grapples with conjunctivitis outbreak

KUAJOK – Warrap state in South Sudan is battling an outbreak of conjunctivitis, commonly known as red eye, health officials said Thursday.

According to local epidemiologist John Akol Akol, most affected areas include Twic East, Tonj South, Tonj North, and Gogrial East counties.

Akol said a joint team from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health has been deployed to assess the outbreak’s prevalence across the state.

“Over 100 cases have already been identified in Kuajok town alone,” Akol revealed. “The team will report back on the number of patients in other counties within a set timeframe.”

“We are also convening a meeting with health partners to coordinate a response to this growing public health concern,” he added.

Akol attributed the outbreak’s spread to poor personal hygiene practices and urged residents to prioritize cleanliness.

“Frequent handwashing is crucial to contain the spread of conjunctivitis, especially after contact with infected individuals,” Akol emphasized. “The outbreak is believed to have originated from neighboring Western Bahr el Ghazal state.”

Conjunctivitis is an infectious condition that inflames the conjunctiva, the eye’s clear outer membrane, causing redness.

Health officials are urging residents to practice good hygiene to prevent further transmission.