Hepatitis E kills 12 in Kaabong

Dec 08, 2009

TWELVE people have so far died and 210 are admitted following an outbreak of Hepatitis E in Kaabong district in north-eastern Uganda. Michael Lochiyo, the district health educator, said scores had been admitted at Kaabong Health Centre IV and other health

By Olandason Wanyama
in Kaabong


TWELVE people have so far died and 210 are admitted following an outbreak of Hepatitis E in Kaabong district in north-eastern Uganda. Michael Lochiyo, the district health educator, said scores had been admitted at Kaabong Health Centre IV and other health centres.

“We have been hit by an increasing number of patients and deaths in the district,” he said.

Hepatitis E is a viral infection that is transmitted through drinking water or eating contaminated food. The virus is found in the stool of infected persons or animals.

In 2007, there was an outbreak of Hepatitis E in northern Uganda, killing 169 people and infecting over 10,000.

In Karamoja, the disease was first diagnosed in Kaabong district in August with a few cases in the town council. However, the last few weeks has seen a spill-over to neighbouring sub-counties due to poor sanitation.

“The most affected sub-counties are Kaabong rural and Sidok, where health authorities are registering at least four cases daily. Some are treated and discharged,” said Lochiyo.

He attributed the spread of the disease to the local cultural belief which discourages latrine usage.

“The Karimojong defecate in river beds and these are places where they scoop water to drink or for domestic use,” he said.

The health officer noted that latrine coverage in Kaabong district stands at only 2%. He urged residents to construct latrines and use them since the disease is spread through contact with feacal matter.

Lochiyo advised people in the affected areas to boil water for drinking, wash their hands with soap after using the toilet and remove children’s faeces from homes.

Medical workers say Hepatitis E is a new strain of the disease in northern Uganda.

“The source of the disease is Sudan where there are no interventions to contain its spread,” Peter Opika Opoka, the Uganda Red Cross coordinator in Kitgum, said recently.

The outbreak in Kitgum district two years ago could be traced to a family in Madi Opei that hosted a Sudanese national, Opoka noted.

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