Refugee influx could worsen cholera epidemic

A cholera epidemic, which has affected parts of western Uganda since January, is persisting amid fears that a fresh influx of refugees from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo could exacerbate the situation. Collins Mwesigye, the World Health Organisation (WHO) official in charge of cholera in Uganda, told IRIN up to 20,000 Congolese refugees, fleeing an upsurge of fighting in the eastern DRC town of Bunia, had crossed into western Uganda. He said this had worsened the already-critical levels of sanitation responsible for the cholera outbreak in the region. The local media this week reported 52 fresh cases and three deaths in the western district of Kasese alone. In the neighbouring border district of Bundibugyo, at least 44 people are said to have died. Mwesigye said the epidemic had taken too long to bring under control because of massive displacements resulting from rebel activities in the region. "The situation could improve," he said. "But in this dynamic situation of population movement, one does not see it as being controlled very quickly. If the political situation was stable in the DRC, then we would be able to control it, but now the fighting in Bunia is complicating the problem." Mwesigye noted that although the WHO was supporting the process of health education in the region, it had run out of essential drugs used for cholera treatment and lacked the funds to procure them. He said his office was meeting with the Ugandan authorities in order to develop an effective response to the crisis.