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More die as cholera effects spread in districts in Tanga

What you need to know:

Residents of Handeni have been urged to take immediate precautionary steps to prevent it from spreading to unaffected areas.

Handeni/Arusha. The deadly cholera disease has erupted in Handeni District in Tanga Region, killing six people.

Residents of Handeni have been urged to take immediate precautionary steps to prevent it from spreading to unaffected areas.

Head of health department at the Handeni District Hospital Credianus Mgimba said six people from Segera, Kwamnele, Kwengoma, Kwamatumu and Ndolwa died of cholera on Friday and yesterday.

“To contain the outbreak we must identify all cases and quickly treat them, but the main focus needs to be preventing the spread of this highly-contagious disease,” he said. Cholera, a waterborne disease, affects people who drink water or eat food contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, causing severe diarrhea and dehydration. If untreated, especially in the very young and elderly populations, cholera can rapidly lead to shock and death.

He said that the district authorities were still struggling with the disease as hospitals continued to receive new patients

“The trend isn’t very good. The disease doesn’t seem to subside,” he said.

“We need to create more public awareness so that people can understand the importance of using clean and safe water, eating uncontaminated fruits and eating hot food. Hygiene regulations should be followed including proper use of toilets.” He added.

In most cases Tanzanians have witnessed cholera outbreaks during the rain season, but this year it wrecked havoc in the dry season in various regions, including Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Pwani.

Cholera outbreak was first reported on August 15, 2015 after the first patient was diagnosed in Dar es Salaam, while the outbreak in Morogoro region was first reported on August 18, 2015.

Recently, Handeni District Commissioner Husna Msangi instructed heads of health departments to ensure they administered health issues in their areas so as to contain the disease.

Meanwhile, the number of cholera patients admitted to Levolosi Health Centre in Arusha has reached 17 since the disease broke out here about three days ago, Mr Allen Sumari, the city health officer, said yesterday.

Sumari said Engosheraton area at Sokon I Ward in the city had been mostly affected, advising residents of the city to properly wash their hands, ensure their surroundings were clean, and timely sent to hospital whoever was found with symptoms of the disease.