At least eight people have been admitted at Naguru hospital in Kampala and are under supervision after they presented with Cholera symptoms, the Ministry of Health said Monday.
The eight patients are residents of Kabowa in Rubanga Division, a Kampala suburb.
Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Senior Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health said on Monday that two of the samples were positive of Cholera.
“Eight patients are currently receiving treatment at Naguru Hospital after presenting with Cholera symptoms,” Ainebyoona said in a tweet.
“Preliminary results obtained out of 7 samples tested show that 2 samples are positive of cholera pending confirmatory tests from CPHL,” he added.
He told SoftPower News that the two samples that tested positive will be taken to the Uganda National Labaratory in Butabika for further tests to confirm of indeed it is Cholera.
On Sunday, some residents of Kabowa told the press that they were living in fear due a disease they suspected to have been Cholera.
The Ministry says it has embarked on efforts to create public awareness on Cholera as well as to encourage Ugandans to embrace methods of good hygiene.
“We are advising the public to embrace washing hands with soap and other detergents especially after using the toilet, boiling drinking water, good hygiene and sanitation,” Ainebyoona said.
He further asked the public to report any cases of people that are suspected to show signs and symptoms of Cholera.
Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae.