Cholera Outbreak Kills Two So Far

Health authorities confirmed a fresh outbreak of cholera in Amudat district. "We got four samples which we took to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, we have already received the results; all of them are positive. The outbreak of cholera was first reported among Kenyan locals in neighboring Uganda. “We received some cases of acute diarrhea from Kenya. The first lady was pregnant and she was admitted to the maternity ward.” But now the disease has spread to Loro, Cheptapoyu and Amudat Town Council. The DHO Amudat said the hospital registered several suspected cases while two patients died of the illness. “Unfortunately two of these patients passed on. The first pregnant lady passed away and another patient still from Kase Parish passed away; she came late with acute renal failure.”

Cholera patients show symptoms of body weakness, vomiting, diarrhea and consequently dehydration. "So these patients when they come here we manage to rehydrate them using hylne fluids.” As new arrivals continue to stream in daily, emergency cases are transferred to Matan or Moroto hospital for proper medical attention. “She was really dehydrated and restless. And there was already a renal failure. We referred her because of renal failure.” Increase in caseload also means working extra hours for some of these health workers. The district authorities and stakeholders are working a way forward to combat the disease. “There are cholera posters, wash posters, how to wash your hand; these are different posters.” “We have come up with a budget of around 70 million which will cater for social mobilization; moving around training health workers on case detection, management, and referral and then to meet the communities.” While the national and local authorities are mounting a response to the outbreak, there is a need for interventions to focus on prevention and that to me will mean close monitoring and proactive preparedness