JIANG ALIPO in Dodoma, 3rd November 2009 @ 22:00, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 558
SCHOOLS in Handeni District, Tanga Region, which were closed following the outbreak of cholera in August, are to be re-opened on Monday, after reports that the situation has now improved.
"The situation has now improved and new cases are no longer being reported in Handeni," Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Aisha Kigoda, told a news conference here yesterday.
More than 3,000 people were reportedly infected by the water-borne disease that claimed 59 lives between August and October in various parts of the country, but Handeni District was hit hardest.
Cholera is an acute illness characterised by watery diarrhoea that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Cholera is spread by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the bacteria.
"After efforts to curb the spread of the disease in the district, the number of infected people has rapidly dropped reaching 16 patients as of October 30," she explained.
Dr Kigoda said that a total of 3,002 patients were confirmed to have been infected with cholera between August 16 and October 30.
She said all secondary and primary schools in Handeni District were closed as a measure to check the spread of the killer disease.
Health personnel and medical supplies were rushed to the affected areas. Public health education was also intensified including appeals for people to boil drinking water.
Health officials urged the people to build and use latrines as well as wash hands with soap regularly.
Cholera is widely regarded as an epidemic in many parts of the world, but in some African countries like Tanzania, the disease is on and off -- almost endemic.
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