%0 Journal Article
%T Rapid cholera outbreak control following catastrophic landslides and floods: A case study of Bududa district, Uganda.
%A Bwire G
%A Tumuhairwe I
%A Kwagonza L
%A Wetaka MM
%A Nakinsige A
%A Arinitwe ES
%A Kemirembe J
%A Muruta A
%A Mugero C
%A Nalwadda CK
%A Okware SI
%J Afr Health Sci
%V 23
%N 4
%D 2023 Dec
%M 38974278
%F 1.108
%R 10.4314/ahs.v23i4.23
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>In June 2019, landslides and floods in Bududa district, eastern Uganda, claimed lives and led to a cholera outbreak. The affected communities had inadequate access to clean water and sanitation.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>To share the experience of controlling a cholera outbreak in Bududa district, after landslides and floods.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in which outbreak investigation reports, weekly epidemiological data and disaster response reports were reviewed.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>On 4 - 5th June 2019, heavy rainfall resulted in four landslides which caused six fatalities, 27 injuries, floods and displaced 480 persons. Two weeks later, a cholera outbreak was confirmed in Bududa district. The Ministry of Health (MoH) rapidly deployed oral cholera vaccine (OCV) from local reserves and mass vaccinated 93% of the target population in 22 affected parishes. The outbreak was controlled in 10 weeks with 67 cholera cases and 1 death reported. However, WaSH conditions remained poor, with only, 24.2 % (879/3,628) of the households with washable latrines, 26.8% (1,023/3,818) had hand-washing facilities with soap and 33.6% (1617/4807) used unsafe water.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The OCV stockpile by the MoH helped Uganda to control cholera promptly in Bududa district. High-risk countries should keep OCV reserves for emergencies.