Senegal faces conjunctivitis outbreak ahead of school reopening

A significant outbreak of conjunctivitis, popularly known as ‘Apollo’, is spreading rapidly across Senegal, particularly along the Dakar-Touba-Kaolack axis. The surge comes just 48 hours before the school year begins for approximately 4.5 million students.

Medical professionals report an exponential increase in cases, leading to the saturation of pharmacies and ophthalmology services. In Touba, the Matlabul Fawzeyni National Hospital Center has seen critical cases rise to between 15 and 20 in two weeks, compared to a normal range of 2 to 5. In Dakar, medical platforms report that conjunctivitis now accounts for 70% to 80% of daily ophthalmological consultations.

While local doctors and field medics describe aggressive dissemination and the formation of clusters in schools and businesses, the Ministry of Health and Social Action has stated it has not received any official national reports regarding the outbreak. Health experts are calling for stricter hygiene protocols to curb the spread.