Death roll from cholera outbreak has increased to 20 in Arua district, northwester Uganda, according to local media on Monday.

The district health educator, Ronald Ocatre, said the latest victim is a former revenue collector at Arua main market who died at his residence in Gurua village, Arua municipality last week.

Cholera first broke out in the district at the shores of River Nile in Rigbo sub-county last month.

After a week, the disease hit the upland Aca villages in Ogoko sub-county where it killed six people.

The epidemic is spreading throughout the district. its presence has been reported in Taraa, Adumi, River Oli, Aroi Rigbo and Ogoku sub-counties.

The district cholera task force, chaired by resident district commissioner Alfred Ogaba, has asked the municipal council staff led by Mayor Thabit Khalifan, to undertake a door-to-door inspection of sanitary facilities and also rid the town center of rotting garbage.

The health officials have conceded that poor hygiene practices and apathetic attitude of residents have undermined the struggle to control the spread of the disease in the district.

Cholera spreads quickly and can kill within hours. The intestinal disease causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, muscular cramps and dehydration, and is spreading by water and food that have been contaminated by infected daeces.

Source: Xinhua