Residents of Potiskum in Yobe State, are expressing concern over the increasing cases of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis, popularly known as Apollo, as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the outbreak.

The Yobe State Specialist Hospital, Potiskum, confirmed that it had recorded a number of cases of the highly contagious eye infection, warning residents and commuters to take precautionary measures to prevent further spread.

The chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee (MAC), Dr Abubakar Zakari, who represented the Medical Director, said the number of recorded cases might not reflect the true situation, as some affected residents could be treating themselves at home without seeking medical attention.

He urged residents to wash their hands regularly, avoid touching their eyes and refrain from sharing personal items such as towels, clothes, bedding, utensils and other belongings.

Zakari also advised infected persons to minimise close contact with others and seek medical attention as soon as symptoms appear.

He warning has heightened concern among residents, with reports of people developing red or swollen eyes, itching, pain and excessive watery discharge in different parts of Potiskum.

Some residents said multiple members of the same families had contracted the infection, fuelling fears that it was spreading rapidly through close contact.

A resident, Goni Alkali, described the situation as alarming, saying the disease appeared to be spreading quickly across the town.

Another resident, Idris Bello Danchuawa, said: “Subhanallahi! Apollo Disease (Ciwon Ido) is still spreading in Potiskum.”

A patient, Musa Abdu, said the outbreak had become a serious concern for residents.

“This Apollo eye infection has become like an epidemic in Potiskum. We have not seen an illness spreading like this for a long time. It is difficult to visit two houses without finding someone infected with the disease,” he said.

Abdu said the infection caused severe redness and pain, adding that some patients had recovered after using eye drops and oral medication.

The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Muhammad Gana, said the ministry had activated measures to contain the spread of the infection.

Gana said key health messages had been developed and disseminated to stakeholders and through social media, while Health Promotion Officers had been directed to sensitise communities through village community mobilisers.

The Yobe State Primary Health Care Board also advised residents to wash their hands regularly with soap and clean water and avoid touching their eyes or sharing towels, handkerchiefs, eye drops and eyeglasses.

The board warned residents against putting substances such as urine, breast milk, sugar solution, cow dung or battery liquid into their eyes, saying such practices could cause permanent eye damage or blindness.

Dr Maryam Mustapha said Apollo was highly contagious and could spread through close contact with infected persons or contaminated surfaces.

She also dismissed the belief that looking into the eyes of an infected person could cause the disease, urging residents to maintain proper hand hygiene and seek medical attention whenever symptoms develop. (The Guardian)

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