Minister of Health Dr. Ruth Acheng has attributed the recent increase in malaria cases to the rainy season.
Acheng said that during the rainy season, the mosquitoes lay eggs on stagnant water which later grow and spread malaria often more times higher in the rainy season.
These remarks came as Acheng was addressing the press earlier today, Wednesday 14, at the Uganda Media Center.
She added that the cases of Malaria have increased by over 400,000 cases when compared with 2018 and 2019 from about 1million cases in June 2018 to 1.4 million in June 2019 (40% increase) but however noted that these cases are still low if compared to 2016 and 2017 in the same period.
" The Malaria upsurge has affected half the country with approximately 65 districts involved. The affected areas include; West Nile region, Acholi region, Busoga Region among others,"
She noted that the increase in Malaria cases recorded this year is similar to what was recorded in the same period last year.
Acheng also attributed the increase to the reduced mosquito net ownership and use to the aging nets since the government last distributed them in 2017/2018.
She appealed to the public to sleep under mosquito nets every night to avoid Malaria and always seek medical attention within 24 hours of onset symptoms.