The Ministry of Health has confirmed an active Cholera outbreak in refugee settlements of Hoima and Kyegegwa Districts.
In a statement from the ministry, refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo are said to have caused the infection to their colleagues in Uganda and the Ugandans at large.
“According to results from the Central Public Health Laboratories, a total of five cases have been confirmed in the refugee settlements of Kyangwali in Hoima district and Kyaka II in Kyegegwa district. Four cases have been confirmed in Hoima and one in Kyegegwa,” the statement reads in part.
"As of yesterday 22nd February 2018, a total of 535 suspected cases with 22 deaths had been reported from Kyangwali refugee settlement with 360 people discharged. Most of the deaths occurred along the way or in the community. In Kyaka II, 23 suspected cases are being followed up,” the statement continues.
According to the Ministry, they are establishing cholera treatment centres at the refugee settlements, screening of all refugees at entry points for early detection of Cholera cases.
The Ministry also claims that additional medical supplies have been dispatched by their partners to the affected settlements.
Cholera is a serious acute infectious disease characterized by watery diarrhoea, vomiting and kills a person within a few hours. It can be spread through eating and drinking foods contaminated with faeces of an infected person. Other factors responsible for its spread include; poor personal hygiene especially not washing hands after visiting the latrines, using contaminated water, poor sanitation as occurs in open defecation, eating food prepared under unhygienic conditions, and drinking contaminated water.