It always starts the same way: waking up on a dusty morning with blood-red eyes that feel filled with sand and are glued shut with crust.
In Ghana, this seasonal outbreak of "Apollo" triggers immediate social panic and a rush towards hazardous home remedies.
However, experts warn that the myths surrounding this virus are far more dangerous to our sight than the infection itself.
Fear, stigma, and the 'staring' myth
Despite how common Apollo is, ancient superstitions persist. On Ghanaian campuses and marketplaces, wearing sunglasses indoors is an immediate signal for people to flee.
Sufferers face intense isolation due to the deeply ingrained belief that the virus transmits through a simple glance.
To escape the stigma and physical discomfort, many resort to generational remedies.
A trader at Anyaa Market recalls applying fresh breast milk to her infant daughter’s eyes, a practice she calls a "generational thing that works".
Similarly, a high school graduate from Korle Gonno noted how her family fetched seawater to use as makeshift eye drops.
The danger in the home remedies
Medical professionals warn that these interventions are a ticking time bomb.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior staff nurse at a local clinic set the record straight: "You cannot catch Apollo by looking at someone.
It is a viral infection spread strictly through contact."
Pouring breast milk or seawater into an already inflamed eye destroys the cornea—the eye's vital, transparent outer layer.
Seawater contains high salt concentrations and microscopic organisms that degrade corneal cells, while breast milk introduces harmful yeast and bacteria.
These fluids risk causing severe bacterial ulcers and permanent blindness.
Hygiene over superstition
Ironically, Apollo is self-limiting and clears up naturally within days.
The real solution is strict hand hygiene, washing the face with warm water, and gently clearing eye crust with clean tissues—not turning to unprescribed fluids.
Breaking the cycle of seasonal panic simply requires trusting science over superstition.
The writer is a student journalist (UniMAC-IJ). E-mail:
