Residents of Potiskum, Yobe State, have expressed growing concern over an outbreak of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis, popularly known as Apollo, as health authorities intensify efforts to contain its spread.
The Yobe State Specialist Hospital in Potiskum confirmed that it had recorded several cases of the highly contagious eye infection, while urging residents and commuters to take precautionary measures.
The Chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Abubakar Zakari, who represented the Medical Director, warned that the number of confirmed cases may not represent the actual situation, as some affected residents could be treating themselves at home without seeking medical attention.
He advised residents to wash their hands regularly, avoid touching their eyes and refrain from sharing personal belongings such as towels, clothes, bedding, utensils and other items.
Zakari also urged people showing symptoms to reduce close contact with others and seek medical attention promptly.
Residents have reportedly observed symptoms including red or swollen eyes, itching, pain and excessive watery discharge. Some residents also claimed that several members of the same families had contracted the infection, raising concerns about its rapid spread through close contact.
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One resident, Goni Alkali, described the situation as alarming, saying the infection appeared to be spreading quickly across the town.
Another resident, Idris Bello Danchuawa, said the outbreak was still spreading in Potiskum, describing it as a serious concern for the community.
A patient, Musa Abdu, said the infection had become widespread, noting that it was difficult to visit two houses without finding someone affected.
Meanwhile, the Yobe State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Muhammad Gana, said the ministry had activated measures to contain the outbreak.
Gana said health messages had been developed and distributed to relevant 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 regularly wash their hands with soap and clean water, avoid touching their eyes and refrain from sharing towels, handkerchiefs, eye drops and eyeglasses.
The board strongly warned against putting substances such as urine, breast milk, sugar solution, cow dung or battery liquid into the eyes, noting that such practices could cause permanent eye damage or blindness.
Dr Maryam Mustapha explained that Apollo is highly contagious and can spread through close contact with infected people or contaminated surfaces.
She also dismissed the belief that looking into the eyes of an infected person can cause the disease, urging residents to observe proper hand hygiene and seek medical attention whenever symptoms appear.
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