Every rainy season, many Nigerians become familiar with Apollo, which is the local name for conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye. The infection often spreads rapidly in schools, offices and other crowded places where people interact closely and use the same facilities.
Conjunctivitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria or allergies. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are highly contagious and spread through direct contact with infected eye secretions, contaminated hands and shared objects. Without proper precautions, one infected employee can unknowingly spread the infection to several colleagues.
In this article, Tribune Online highlights practical ways to protect your workplace during the Apollo season.
Practise good hand hygiene
Regular hand washing with soap and clean water is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of conjunctivitis. Employees should wash their hands after using shared office equipment, before eating and after touching their faces. Where soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitiser is a good alternative.
Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes
Touching your eyes with unwashed hands increases the risk of transferring viruses or bacteria into the eyes. If your eyes feel irritated, wash your hands before touching them or use a clean tissue instead.
Do not share personal items
Face towels, handkerchiefs, eye drops, cosmetics and other personal items should never be shared. These items can carry infectious eye secretions and easily spread the infection from one person to another.
Disinfect shared surfaces regularly
Frequently touched surfaces such as desks, keyboards, mouse, telephones, door handles and meeting room tables should be cleaned regularly. Routine disinfection reduces the presence of germs that may contribute to the spread of infections in the office.
Encourage sick employees to stay home
Anyone with symptoms such as red eyes, eye discharge, excessive tearing or swollen eyelids should avoid coming to work until they have been properly evaluated by a healthcare professional. Staying home while contagious protects other employees and reduces the likelihood of an office-wide outbreak.