Cholera outbreak kills 10 in Kampala, 147 hospitalized

A cholera outbreak has hit Uganda's capital city of Kampala, leaving some 10 people killed and 147 hospitalized in the five divisions of the city.

The City Director of Health Services, Mesach Mubiru was quoted by Daily Monitor on Tuesday as saying the majority of patients came from Kawempe division, a slum area in the city suburb.

"The problem seems to be growing especially in slum areas. Over 70 patients are from Kawempe," Mubiru said.

Kawempe division health inspector, David Katwere said cholera was spreading in Bwaise, Kalerwe, Nsooba and other slums due to the tendency to empty latrines in flooding water during the rainy season.

"The problem is mainly caused by people who let human waste into water channels. These end up into wells and people's houses," Katwere said.

Cholera broke out in Kampala last month after the rainy season started in October, killing six people in Kawempe and Makindye divisions. Floods swept parts of Kawempe and Makindye divisions effecting thousands of residents in Kalerwe, Bwaise, Nabisaalu and Katwe areas.

The Kawempe division has instituted a special disaster management committee to help in carrying patients to cholera treatment centers and to rescue flood victims.

The division has also banned selling of unsealed cold drinks, foodstuffs as health inspectors instructed the closure of all unhygienic restaurants in prevention of further spread.

Source: Xinhua