Four people contract cholera in Bukoba Municipality

KAGERA: BUKOBA District Commissioner (DC) Mr Erasto Sima has said that four patients have been confirmed to have contracted cholera in Bukoba Municipality and admitted to Nshambya District Hospital for treatment.

He appealed to citizens to take precautionary measures, including washing hands with soap, before taking any meal and doing the same after using toilet.

He has as well called upon residents in Bukoba Municipal Council to ensure they boil or treat drinking water.

“The first cholera patient was reported on January 4, this year in Bakoba Ward’s Kafuti Street while three other patients were reported from different areas while the fourth patient was reported on Thursday at Kibeta Ward,” he said.

Mr Sima said the fight against the pandemic must involve all residents…adding “it is a matter of life and death. The only known cause for the deadly disease is filth in all forms. First and foremost, proper sanitation is one of the tools against the disease. It requires the highest degree of personal hygiene. This can be done. Let us all take heed,” he said.

He said the agenda of keeping the environment clean should be permanent…”This should be a routine for each household to ensure that they have decent toilets and garbage is disposed in proper manner,” he said.

He directed health officials in the municipality Ward Executive Officers (WEOs) to ensure that surveillance teams are keeping a 24-hour monitoring, including  giving  a report on any suspected case. People should also be sensitized to maintain hygiene and drink boiled water, he said.

In December, last year (2023) the number of patients confirmed to have contracted Cholera in Missenyi District   increased to seven patients with four confirmed deaths.

Four people died of the pandemic on November 29th, last year at Bugorora Ward’s Buchurago Village, in Missenyi District while five patients were earlier admitted to the St Therese Omukajunguti hospital.

According to the Ministry of Health (MoH) officials, cholera is an infection of the bacterium Vibrio cholera. Symptoms may range from none, mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days.

Vomiting and muscle cramps may also occur. Diarrhoea can be so severe that it leads within hours to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. It is spread mostly by water and food that has been contaminated with human feaces containing the bacteria.