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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A cholera outbreak has hit Uganda’s capital city Kampala.
The Ministry of Health has so far confirmed seven cases that are currently undergoing treatment at China-Uganda Friendship Hospital (CUFH), Naguru. Three of these cases are from one family residing in Mpigi District while the other four are from two families residing in Kalerwe, one of the suburbs of Kampala City.
Uganda is currently experiencing heavy rains that experts say are likely to result in floods and contamination of water sources because of poor hygiene and sanitation, and high-water table in certain districts. According to health officials, this will favor the spread of outbreaks of infectious and communicable diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery and malaria in several districts.
“The Ministry of Health would like to inform the general public that there is an active Cholera outbreak in parts of Kampala City. In order to avert further spread of the disease, two isolation wards have been set up at; Mulago National Referral Hospital and CUFH-Naguru,” said Director General Health Services Dr. Henry G. Mwebesa in a statement.
Cholera is a serious acute infectious disease characterized by watery diarrhea and vomiting and kills a person within hours. It is spread through eating and drinking food contaminated with feaces of an infected person.
Other factors responsible for the spread of Cholera include; poor personal hygiene such as not washing hands after using the latrine, using contaminated water, poor sanitation as occurs in open defecation, eating foods or drinks prepared under unhygienic conditions.
