The Westmoreland Health Department is urging residents to take precautions to prevent an outbreak of viral conjunctivitis (pink eye) following the confirmation of three cases in the West Parish.
Surveillance data shows that the three cases were confirmed in the Negril Health District and were detected in three children aged two, three and five.
Parish health promotion and education officer Gerald Miller told JIS News that while there is no outbreak at this time, he is advising the public to take action. to reduce your risk of getting infected with pink eye.
These measures include washing your hands regularly, limiting handshakes, and wearing eye protection when exposed to wind, dust, heat, or sunlight to avoid irritation.
People are also urged to avoid touching their eyes unnecessarily and sharing eye makeup, eye medication, contact lenses, containers and solutions.
“Although we don’t have an epidemic, the potential is great if we don’t stop it because it is very contagious. If a child comes to school, he can transmit it to other children in the environment. That’s why we’re alerting our stakeholders,” Miller said.
He said the health department briefed its stakeholders and carried out outreach activities to build awareness.
“Since pink eye is contagious, we are now using this medium to engage and alert our stakeholders, primarily early childhood institutions, the Department of Education (and Youth) and our schools,” Miller said. . “We have…sent information to development workers, who work with the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), and we have also advised Westmoreland education officials to post information in their WhatsApp groups.”
Miller urges parents to see a health care provider if their children show symptoms of the virus.
Pink eye is redness and swelling of the eye that may be due to infection or irritation caused by viruses.
Signs of the virus include redness and tearing, itchy and/or burning eyes, gritty feeling in the eyes, and hypersensitivity to light.
Pink eye is a common condition and the infection can be spread by touching/rubbing the eyes with dirty hands or sharing objects such as eye drops, contact lenses, a towel/tissue and tissue. makeup.
Most people will recover from pink eye within seven to 10 days without medical treatment.
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