Cholera Outbreak Affects Multiple African Countries

Synopsis

A cholera outbreak in northern Uganda's Lamwo district has resulted in one death and 60 hospitalizations. Health officials link the outbreak to poor sanitation and unprotected water sources, prompting community awareness efforts. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe faces its own cholera crisis, with 28 cases reported since November, highlighting the ongoing public health challenges in the region.

Key Takeaways

Cholera outbreak in Lamwo, Uganda.
One death and 60 hospitalizations reported.
Outbreak linked to poor sanitation.
Community awareness initiatives underway.
Zimbabwe also facing cholera cases.

Kampala, Jan 14 (NationPress) A tragic cholera outbreak has led to the death of at least one individual, with 60 more hospitalized in the northern district of Lamwo, Uganda, as reported by health officials.

Denis Ocula, the district health officer for Lamwo, communicated in a written statement to Xinhua that initial cases emerged in the Agoro sub-county early last week.

"All cases exhibited symptoms such as vomiting, acute watery diarrhea, dehydration, and general body weakness without fever," noted Ocula.

Stool samples were collected from those suspected to have contracted the disease, with seven testing positive on January 10, as per reports from Xinhua news agency.

Ocula indicated that the outbreak could stem from inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices, as residents are relying on unprotected water sources.

A task force has been established to promote community awareness regarding the importance of handwashing, safe water practices, and proper waste disposal. "We have also trained additional health personnel from both private and public sectors on identifying cholera cases, managing them, and reporting procedures," Ocula added.

He cautioned that the affected sub-county is considered high-risk, situated near the South Sudan border, with a significant number of people crossing into Uganda.

According to the World Health Organization, cholera is a severe acute infectious disease marked by watery diarrhea and vomiting.

In the meantime, Zimbabwe has reported 28 cholera cases and two fatalities in an outbreak that began in November of the previous year, as health authorities announced on Monday.

Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and Child Care provided an update, stating the current outbreak, which started in the Kariba district of Mashonaland West Province, has since expanded to seven districts, including Harare, the nation's capital.

A total of 282 suspected cholera cases have been reported in Zimbabwe, with 275 recoveries. Additionally, 4,923 individuals received an oral cholera vaccine during a four-day campaign targeting the worst-affected farms and residential areas in Glendale and Mazowe districts of Mashonaland Central Province, which is currently the outbreak's epicenter.

This outbreak follows a previous nationwide cholera outbreak declared over by the government in August of last year, which had begun in February 2023 and resulted in over 700 confirmed or suspected deaths, according to United Nations Children’s Fund.

Zimbabwe has experienced ongoing cholera outbreaks over recent years due to deficient water and sanitation infrastructure.