SUMBAWANGA: SUMBAWANGA District Commissioner Nyakia Chirukie has confirmed that a cholera outbreak in three wards of the district has led to the deaths of two children, with 37 people reported to be infected.
Administratively, Sumbawanga district consists of Sumbawanga District Council and Sumbawanga Municipal Council.
The cholera outbreak, which occurred in February this year, has claimed the lives of two children and affected 37 individuals.
While visiting Nankanga Ward in the Rift Valley Lake Rukwa Basin, which falls under Sumbawanga District Council, DC Chirukie confirmed that 26 people have contracted cholera, including 12 patients from Nankanga and 14 from Muze Ward.
The deaths of the two children occurred in Senga Ward within Sumbawanga Municipality earlier this month.
A total of 11 patients have been admitted to Dr Atman District Hospital in the Kristu Mfalme area.
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Laboratory tests have confirmed that all the cases are cholera-positive. All patients have been treated and discharged.
DC Chirukie urged residents to adopt preventive measures, including washing hands with soap before meals and after using the toilet and ensuring that drinking water is either boiled or treated.
The outbreak is believed to have originated from a gathering in Senga Village, where mourners may have consumed contaminated food or water.
In response to the outbreak, Mr Chirukie has banned food vendors from selling at schools and prohibited the sale of local brews in the area.
“The fight against cholera requires a collective effort. This is a matter of life and death.
Poor sanitation is the root cause and maintaining proper hygiene is the best defence,” he emphasised.
He also insisted the need for continuous environmental cleanliness, urging households to practice proper waste disposal and ensure access to hygienic toilets
