Ministry of Health Confirms Cholera Outbreak in Kampala

There is a confirmed outbreak of cholera in parts of Kampala, the Ministry of Health has announced on Monday.

The outbreak was declared following confirmation of 7 cases in Kampala. All cases are currently under close monitoring and treatment at Naguru hospital.

Three of the 7 cases are from one family residing in Mpigi district while the other four are from two families residing in Kalerwe, a Kampala suburb.

“The Ministry of Health would like to inform the general public that there is an active Cholera outbreak in parts of Kampala city,” Dr. Henry G. Mwebesa, the Ag. Director General Health Services at the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Monday.

In the wake of the outbreak, the Ministry has set up two isolation wards at Mulago and Naguru hospitals in order to avert further spread of the disease.

Government suspects that the cases of cholera were triggered by the heavy rains that Uganda is currently experiencing. Often times result in floods and contamination of water sources because of poor hygiene and sanitation, and high-water table in certain districts.

In other measures undertaken to curb the spread of cholera, the Ministry has intensified case management and surveillance of Cholera cases and embarked on social mobilization and sensitization of communities on cholera, its prevention and control measures.

“The Ministry of Health appeals to the general public to boil all drinking water or add Chlorine ‘water guard or aquatab’ and to open the water drainage channels around your homes and drain stagnant water,” Ministry of Health has cautioned.

The public have also been urged to wash their hands with soap and clean water after using the toilet and before eating.

Other safety precautions include cooking food thoroughly and eating it while still hot.

The Minisgry is also cautioning the publiv to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean water before eating them, and where possible peel before eating. In addition, people should avoid eating cold food or drinking fluids packed in used plastic bottles or ‘buveera’.

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 underunhygienic conditions.