Six schools in Busia County sent their learners home over a red-eye disease outbreak which affected pupils and students.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary General Moffat Okisai confirmed that the affected students were quarantined.
Teachers, as a result, challenged the government to distribute red-eye treatments to school dispensaries to ensure that medics could attend to the students promptly.
Among the schools affected by the outbreak included Amagoro Girls High School, Malaba Primary School, and Mundika Boys High School.
"Quite a number of schools have been affected. We have Amagoro Girls, Malaba Primary, Mundika Boys, Moding, and Nambale Boys have been affected," Okisai stated.
"It is just a matter of us taking preventive measures. Affected students have just been quarantined and isolated from the rest and after two days or so, they will resume the learning exercise."
The red-eye, also known as conjunctivitis, first broke out in Mombasa County at the tail-end of 2023 with visible effects being red-coloured or pink-coloured eyes.
According to experts, the red eye is caused by the inflammation of the transparent membrane in the eyeball.
The diseases can be caused by viral or bacterial infection. Individuals with an allergic reaction can also exhibit the symptoms.
The victims can also experience swelling of the conjunctiva and the eyes will produce more tears.
Other symptoms include itchiness, discharge of pus or mucus as well as crusting of eyelids or lashes.
Medical workers in Busia, as a result, advised parents of the affected students to seek professional help noting that the disease cannot be healed at home.
In February, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura revealed that the disease can be spread through sharing personal effects or touching the eyes of an infected person.
"The disease is spread by touching the eyes of infected persons or contaminated surfaces then touching your eyes. This disease, characterized by red, watery eyes, has been identified as a form of conjunctivitis, which is highly contagious but generally not severe in nature," Mwaura stated.
Kenyans should avoid touching their faces, frequently wash their hands, disinfect surfaces, and avoid sharing personal items like towels.
