Cholera kills seven in Kotido

Aug 07, 2010

SEVEN people died of cholera last week following an outbreak in Nangodia village in Panyangara sub-county, Kotido district.They lived in Aurukan Kraal, which has a population of over 2,000 Karimojong.

By Olandason Wanyama

SEVEN people died of cholera last week following an outbreak in Nangodia village in Panyangara sub-county, Kotido district.They lived in Aurukan Kraal, which has a population of over 2,000 Karimojong.

The district chairman, Rex Achilla, on Thursday said 546 people had been hospitalised at Kotido health centre with symptoms of cholera, but had been discharged. He attributed the outbreak to heavy rains and poor sanitation.

Achilla added that cholera had hit all sub-counties with at least a case being reported daily. He identified the most affected sub-counties as Panyangara, Rengen and Kotido town council. Nakaperimolu, Kaceeri and Kotido, have had isolated cases.

However, Achilla said health officers were sensitising communities on how to prevent cholera and he also advised residents to boil water before drinking it, to eat hot food and to use pit latrines to prevent another outbreak.

Meanwhile, the office of the Prime Minister has dispatched a truck to ferry clean water to kraals to curb the disease.

Cholera is caused by a bacterial infection of the intestines and is characterised by rapid loss of fluids leading to dehydration or death.

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