Typhoid kills four in Kapchorwa
Mar 06, 2008
Typhoid has broken out in Kapchorwa district, killing four people and leaving five admitted at Mbale Main Hospital in critical condition.
By Josephine Maseruka
Typhoid has broken out in Kapchorwa district, killing four people and leaving five admitted at Mbale Main Hospital in critical condition.
Health state minister Dr. Emmanuel Otaala, who visited Mbale Hospital recently, confirmed the outbreak, saying the patients were not responding to the latest drugs, Cephalosporins.
He said the patients had multiple perforations (many tiny holes) in the intestines, caused by long, untreated typhoid.
“We have directed doctors to revert to the old typhoid treatment of Chloranphenicol. We have also directed them to carry out biopsies (where a tissue of a patient is cut and tested) and we are waiting for the results.â€
Anthens Somikwo, a local administrative secretary, yesterday told The New Vision that the first case was reported at the beginning of November 2007.
He added that Shamilla Kokopkareny, a typhoid patient from Kirwoko village in Kattanya sub-county, died early this week at Kapchorwa Hospital after an operation.
Those who died at Mbale Hospital were Patrick Siya from Cheminy village in Kaproron sub-county , Rose Chemutay of Kaptolong village in Binyiny sub-county and Felista Cherista of Kapohesi village, Kaptanya sub-county.
Those critically ill in Mbale are Patrick Malewa , Alex Chemonges and Patrick Masau from Kirwoko village in Kaptanya sub-county, Night Ferishe from Ngasire village in Sipi sub-county and Shabulin Chebet of Kono village in Binyiny sub-county.
Kirwoko village in Kaptanya sub-county is the worst hit with half of the cases and one death registered. Some residents thought it was a strange new disease.
Henry Lwigare, the Mbale Hospital principal administrator, said eight people had been admitted since December with similar symptoms of severe diarrhea, high fever, severe stomach pain and inflammation of the intestines.
“At least three have died,†he added. “Unfortunately, they are not responding to the treatment. They are in critical condition and we cannot get accurate results if we test for typhoid when they are in such a state.â€
Lwige said a team of health experts would be sent to Kapchorwa from Mbale to support the medical workers there.
Otaala has also directed the commissioner for community health, Dr. Sam Okware, to constitute a committee to investigate the disease and design a strategy of overcoming it.
The team will also sensitise people on basic sanitation and hygiene, since typhoid is caused by eating food contaminated by faeces.
Typhoid has broken out in Kapchorwa district, killing four people and leaving five admitted at Mbale Main Hospital in critical condition.
Health state minister Dr. Emmanuel Otaala, who visited Mbale Hospital recently, confirmed the outbreak, saying the patients were not responding to the latest drugs, Cephalosporins.
He said the patients had multiple perforations (many tiny holes) in the intestines, caused by long, untreated typhoid.
“We have directed doctors to revert to the old typhoid treatment of Chloranphenicol. We have also directed them to carry out biopsies (where a tissue of a patient is cut and tested) and we are waiting for the results.â€
Anthens Somikwo, a local administrative secretary, yesterday told The New Vision that the first case was reported at the beginning of November 2007.
He added that Shamilla Kokopkareny, a typhoid patient from Kirwoko village in Kattanya sub-county, died early this week at Kapchorwa Hospital after an operation.
Those who died at Mbale Hospital were Patrick Siya from Cheminy village in Kaproron sub-county , Rose Chemutay of Kaptolong village in Binyiny sub-county and Felista Cherista of Kapohesi village, Kaptanya sub-county.
Those critically ill in Mbale are Patrick Malewa , Alex Chemonges and Patrick Masau from Kirwoko village in Kaptanya sub-county, Night Ferishe from Ngasire village in Sipi sub-county and Shabulin Chebet of Kono village in Binyiny sub-county.
Kirwoko village in Kaptanya sub-county is the worst hit with half of the cases and one death registered. Some residents thought it was a strange new disease.
Henry Lwigare, the Mbale Hospital principal administrator, said eight people had been admitted since December with similar symptoms of severe diarrhea, high fever, severe stomach pain and inflammation of the intestines.
“At least three have died,†he added. “Unfortunately, they are not responding to the treatment. They are in critical condition and we cannot get accurate results if we test for typhoid when they are in such a state.â€
Lwige said a team of health experts would be sent to Kapchorwa from Mbale to support the medical workers there.
Otaala has also directed the commissioner for community health, Dr. Sam Okware, to constitute a committee to investigate the disease and design a strategy of overcoming it.
The team will also sensitise people on basic sanitation and hygiene, since typhoid is caused by eating food contaminated by faeces.