The student representative council (SRC) at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in Durban wants more safety measures put in place after a recent pink-eye outbreak in some university residences.
Three residences housing MUT students experienced an outbreak of the infection two weeks ago, which quickly affected more than 35 students.
“[The outbreak] must have started on February 22 because I received a report on the 23rd. Between 35 and 45 students were affected in three of our university residences. Unfortunately I can’t share the names of those residences,” said a senior SRC member, who did not want to be named.
What amazes us is, where does it come from? We’re asking ourselves if it came with someone or if they [students] somehow found it in those buildings.
— Thobisa Dalasile, SRC president
A joint effort of the campus clinic and surrounding hospitals helped ensure that the outbreak was quickly contained before it could even suspend classes, she said.
“The institution has a campus clinic whose staff worked with external health facilities, like the Addington Hospital and others, to ensure that students get immediate assistance when they get there. It’s been two weeks now since we’ve received any report regarding pink eye.”
SRC president Thobisa Dalasile confirmed there had been an outbreak and said they were still puzzled whether it was the affected residences that were compromised or the students who had it in the residences affected.
“What amazes us is, where does it come from? We’re asking ourselves if it came with someone or if they [students] somehow found it in those buildings,” he said.
Dalasile said the outbreak was contained before it could affect classes. He said they were relieved there had been no further cases reported in almost two weeks, but cautioned the university community not to rest on their laurels.
“We still want the department of health to visit the affected residences to investigate what happened, and we need more safety measures in all other residences to ensure this does not happen again.”
Attempts to get a response from the university were not successful.
The KwaZulu-Natal department of health has noted the rapid spread of the infection in the province, and the city in particular, over the past week.
Confirmed cases jumped from 166 on Thursday February 29 to 1,044 by Sunday March 3, with eThekwini metro responsible for 1,040 cases and the other four being in the Ugu district.
MEC Nomagugu Simelane said preventive measures include good personal hygiene practices, like regular handwashing and avoiding sharing face cloths, eye cosmetics and pillows.
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