Number of Cholera victims in Hoima shoots up
The number of people that have been infected with cholera in Hoima district has risen to over 2000 with the cumulative death toll now standing at 40.
Dr Peter Byaruhanga, the acting Hoima district disease surveillance officer, told Uganda Radio Network on Tuesday that 500 fresh cholera cases were reported among the Congolese refugees and members of the host communities at Kasonga, Sebigoro and Buhuka isolation centres in the last two weeks.
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He fears that the cases could escalate following the heavy rain that has hit most parts of Hoima district.
Byaruhanga urges the public to maintain proper hygiene in their homes to avoid contracting or spreading the disease from one person to another during the rainy season.
He further explains that the cases have further spread to various villages in the sub counties of Kigorobya, Kyangwali, Kabwoya, Buseruka and in Hoima Municipality.
According to Dr Byaruhanga, one death has been recorded in Busiisi division, in the municipality.
He says between nine to 14 cases are being reported at the various isolation centres daily.
Dr Byaruhanga says all the district health assistants have been deployed in the cholera prone areas of Kyangwali, Buseruka, Kigorobya and Kabwoya to carry out massive sensitisation among members of the public on how to guard themselves against any further cholera spread.
He explains that they have deployed village health teams (VHTs) to do case notification by moving from house to house to identify those with cholera related cases.
The cholera outbreak was first reported at Sebagoro landing site on the Lake Albert shores in Hoima district on February 11 among the Congolese refugees fleeing tribal clashes in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo between the Lendu, Bagegere and Hema communities.
