SUVA — Fiji is experiencing a major pink eye outbreak, having seen the number of cases jump from 700 to 5,000 in the district of Suva in the past two weeks. Health authorities are imploring people to observe strict personal hygiene.

“You know personal sanitation is primary and that is what we are trying to advise to the community instead of running for antibiotics which is probably unnesesary at this point in time if it is a virus,” said Dr. Kama. “It should really take its course and personal sanitation is really important to adhere to.”

Also known as conjunctivitis ,pink eye in these numbers is the equivalent to the annual average for Pink Eye cases across the whole country in previous years, said to Mike Kama, Fiji’s national communicable disease advisor.

Health authorities are urging people with the virus to only seek medical assistance if bacterial infections developed. They are also urging anyone with pink eye to stay away from work and school. Health authorities are not associating the outbreak with Cyclone Winston.

FBC News reports the chief pharmacist, Apolosi Vosanibola, as saying replacement stocks of eye drops, such as chloramphenicol, which were due to arrive yesterday have been delayed as many health centres in Fiji are running out of eye drops. Supplies should arrive in health centres and hospitals from this weekend.