Cholera outbreak hits Nkhata Bay

Health authorities in Nkhata Bay have declared a cholera outbreak in the district following hospitalisation of 12 people, as samples collected from two of them tested positive for the disease.

The 12, who are currently undergoing cholera treatment and management, are from Lichizi, Kamwandi, Lisale and Mng’ona II villages in the district.

Confirming the outbreak, the district health office spokesperson Christopher Singini said all the 12 cases have been fully controlled as they are being treated in an isolated ward to contain the situation.

He urged the general public not to panic following declaration of the outbreak.

Said Singini: ‘‘We would like to inform the general public that we are working tirelessly to control the spread.’’

While appealing to the general public in the district, he said they should quickly consult health surveillance assistants (HSAs) to urge people in their areas to continue practising precautionary measures such as washing hands with soap, use of latrines and drinking safe and treated water.

Meanwhile, health authorities, together with Nkhata Bay District council, have embarked on an intensive community awareness and investigative follow ups in the affected hot spot sites. The exercise is expected to be rolled out across the district soon.

Nkhata Bay was last hit by the disease in 2009. The latest outbreak comes barely a week after Zomba and Machinga also registered cholera cases. n