Cholera death toll reach 17 in Nebbi

By Benedict Okethwengu

Two people have been confirmed dead and 56 others admitted atNebbi hospital following the fresh outbreak of cholera disease in Nebbi district.

The death of the two unidentfied victims  and 56 patients  who are admitted at Nebbi hospital brings to 17 the number of victims killed and  more than 1,150 infected  with cholera after the first case was reported in the district in March this year according to health official in the district.

Kitts Obima, the Nebbi district health Educator  said that  the district  is alarmed by the  persistance outbreak of the disease arguing that  cholera is persisting  due to  relaxity on the side of the community to have sanitary facilites at home and thier  poor habits to responds on the cholera symptoms. 

When New Vision visited Nebbi hospital to ascertain the number of people infetced in the lastest outbreak in Nebbi Town concil  on Monday (May, 28,2012) many of the victims mostly youths and children were seen lying with drip on thier connected to thier body at Nebbi hospital isolation ward.

Obima called on  leaders in the district to enforce the use of sanitary facilities and educate the communities to avoid  eating cold food , “According to public food act, food is purpose to be eaten indoor place but people still eat food  in open places  which  exposes them at high risks of contracting cholera” he said.

Cholera is an infection in the small intestine caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse, watery diarrhea and vomiting. Its transmission occurs primarily by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated by the feces of an infected person.

Obima said that the first  case of cholera was  reported   in  Akworo sub-county the district on March 2012.

He explained that  the worst hit sub-county has been Akworo, Panyimur, Parombo Pakwach  sub-county which recorded a total of 15 death and the latest being Nebbi Town Council  with over 56 cases reportedly admitted at Nebbi hospital
Obima, however,said that drugs that district is  still using the previous stocks which were delivered by the ministry and other humantarian organisation in the first outbreak.

He added that, the cholera  sample have been taken to central public health’s laboratory for test for rapid  responds.
Mean while to avoid the further spread of the disease, local council leaders have banned the selling of food  itmes at the road sides.

In Nebbi Town council James Chombe Mucek , the  Nebbi town council LC.3 chaiperson said that the council have temporaly suspended selling of  food items in the street and open restaurant. He said the move was aimed  to control the  disease from  futher spread by eating cold food.

He also said that the council have formed cholera task force who would  move door to door to check sanitary facilities like toilets, washing facilities in order to to combat the cholera the disease.