FIJI – As conjunctivitis or “pinkeye disease” cases increase in Fiji in the aftermath of Cyclone Winston, the Health Ministry has called on those infected to stay home and refrain from unnecessary travelling.

A fast-spreading outbreak of conjunctivitis has developed in the Fijian capital, Suva, and has spread across the country.

More than 5000 people have contracted the infection – known locally as cika – in the last fortnight.

So rapid is the spread that local pharmacies have run out of anti-bacterial eyedrops.

Among those infected are half of the Fiji 7s rugby team according to a tweet from coach Ben Ryan.

Assistant Health Minister Veena Bhatnagar confirmed that Fiji recorded 5200 cases of conjunctivitis, an outbreak that had worried the ministry.

Conjunctivitis is a bacterial or viral infection on the inner eyelid which causes blood vessels to become inflamed resulting in eyes appearing reddish or pink.

“This particular virus is highly contagious and infectious and that is why if anyone is affected has to take precautionary measures,” Bhatnagar said.

“It is a viral infection and adults and children are advised to take rest at home and abstain from attending school, work and social functions.

“Personal hygiene is vital to halt the spread of the disease.

“Before I say anything further on personal hygiene, remember that anyone can get infected, from babies to adults, so it is very important to know that if you are infected, you can halt its spread.”

Bhatnagar said those with the infection should practise basic hygiene methods such as washing their hands and isolating their belongings from the rest of the family.

Bhatnagar said the infection could last up to two weeks and recommended that severe cases were referred to the doctor.

“These things last about one to one and a half weeks, because it depends on your immune system.”

Vodafone Fiji Sevens prop Viliame Mata will not be available for Hong Kong 7s selection after being released from camp as he has conjunctivitis.

Team Manager Ropate Kauvesi said Nemani Nagusa and Josateki Tuilawaki were the other two players who had the virus but they have been isolated.

Kauvesi said that Mata’s case was serious and they had to release him to avoid the spread of the bug in camp.

Fiji is the defending champion of the Hong Kong 7s which will be held from next Friday to Sunday.

Most pharmacies in Fiji’s Western Division have run out of their stocks of eye drops and ointments for conjunctivitis, according to the Fiji Times.

“We have run out of Chloramphenicol which is the medication for the first stage of conjunctivitis,” said Zurin Aazmi, director of Medirite Pharmacy.

“So many people are coming for the eye drops and ointments which is why we have run out.”

The story was the same for Budget Pharmacy in Nadi whose staff members said they had run out of stock but were expecting more to arrive.

“We have run out of the Chloramphenicol but we were also giving herbal eye drops,” said Salome Bale, pharmacist of Mega Pharmacy in Lautoka. “We have also run out of that.”

Staff at the Hyperchem Pharmacy in Lautoka also said they too had run out of eye drops and ointments for conjunctivitis.

- PNC sources