Unraveling the Mystery: New Virus Linked to Kenya’s Red Eye Epidemic

In February 2024, the coastal city of Mombasa was brimming with concern as hospitals filled with residents exhibiting a common yet alarming symptom: red, bloodshot eyes that emerged seemingly overnight. This sudden surge in cases alarmed public health officials and prompted urgent investigations into the cause of what appeared to be an outbreak of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC), more commonly referred to as “red eye” disease.

For months, researchers at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme have been engaging in meticulous detective work to identify the infectious agent behind the outbreak. Although AHC can arise from various factors including bacterial infections, allergens, or viral agents, the specific cause was often overlooked in previous medical reports from Kenya.

The breakthrough came when scientists identified the culprit as a specific viral strain known as the coxsackievirus A24 variant (CA24v). This virus, previously linked to outbreaks in several regions, including the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte, is now confirmed to be the main player in Kenya’s recent AHC outbreak. In a paper published by the Wellcome Open Research journal, lead researcher Arnold Lambisia and his team elucidated that this marks the first documented presence of CA24v in an AHC outbreak in Kenya.

“Our findings suggest that the 2024 outbreak in coastal Kenya was likely caused by CA24v,” the researchers noted, emphasizing the lack of previous investigations into the causes of AHC epidemics in the region. Understanding the aetiology of such outbreaks is essential for providing appropriate public health guidelines aimed at controlling the infection’s transmission.

AHC is characterized by a rapid onset of symptoms including intense eye redness, itching, swollen eyelids, and blurred vision. Systemic symptoms such as fever and body aches can also occur in some cases. The highly contagious nature of the infection means it can spread easily through direct contact with infected secretions, making crowded environments like schools and public transport hubs breeding grounds for transmission.

This strain of coxsackievirus A24 variant has been previously detected in East Africa, including cases noted in Uganda and South Sudan in 2010, and more recently in Tanzania, Burundi, Malawi, and South Africa. With this knowledge, public health implications become clear: maintaining hygiene through regular handwashing and refraining from touching one’s face is crucial in prevention efforts.

“School closure and/or case exclusion is a common strategy to curtail AHC transmission,” the researchers advocated, underscoring the importance of swift public health interventions in times of outbreak.

Moreover, it is vital for healthcare practitioners and the public to be cautious about the misuse of antibiotics, which can contribute to the growing crisis of antibiotic resistance. While AHC can cause significant discomfort, public awareness about its transmission dynamics is paramount in mitigating its spread.

As Kenyan researchers continue their work, this epidemic serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of pathogen identification and public health preparedness in the face of rapidly spreading diseases.