[Uganda] Malaria Outbreak Hits Kabale

from All Africa

Robert Muhereza
Kabale

A MALARIA outbreak has been reported in Kabale district. The Kabale Director of Health Services, Dr Patrick Tusiime, has attributed the outbreak to an increase of mosquitoes in the region.

Addressing journalists in Kabale town on Friday, Tusiime said over 6,000 malaria patients were admitted at different health centres in the district in the previous week alone.

"This figure shows a real malaria epidemic in the district," Tusiime said, thanking God for the mass mosquito-spraying programme that has been launched in the area.

"I appeal to the people to cooperate and open their houses for spraying." Residents have been rejecting the spraying team access to their homes, following a recent death of two students at St. Paul Seminary, shortly after their dormitories had been sprayed with ICON, a mosquito pesticide recently.

Tusiime said the deceased were allergic to ICON.

Medical personnel in the district are yet to decide whether people would first get diagnosed for allergies or use a different repellent to eradicate the mosquitoes.

Tusiime has called upon residents to visit health centres for medication, saying malaria drugs are available and free of charge.

Strong anti-malarial drugs; Homapack and Coartem are being supplied to patients in the region to contain the situation before it gets out of hand.

The doctor also advised the residents of the area to use treated mosquito nets to shield away the parasite.