KAMPALA, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Three people have been confirmed dead and 70 others hospitalized following an outbreak of cholera in the western Ugandan district of Kasese.
Henry Mwebesa, acting director general of health services at the ministry of health, said in a statement on Monday that the suspected cases have been reported in Nyakiyumbu Sub County since the outbreak started last week.
He said the ministry has set up an isolation ward at Bwera Hospital in Kasese to enhance treatment and control of the disease.
"The ministry of health has dispatched a consignment of medical supplies to Kasese district to beef up response efforts to contain the outbreak," said Mwebesa.
"Health workers have also been oriented and supported to follow up cases at household level to avert further spread," he added.
Cholera is an acute infectious disease characterized by watery diarrhea and vomiting, according to the World Health Organization, which argues that the disease remains a global threat to public health.
It can be spread through drinking or eating food contaminated with stool of an infected person.
The ministry warned that other disease outbreaks are likely to occur as the country experiences heavy rains from September to December.
"The incidence of infections and communicable diseases such as malaria, cholera, typhoid and dysentery may rise to outbreak levels in many districts," said Mwebesa. Enditem
