Health officials in Jinja City have confirmed an outbreak of bilharzia on Kisima I and Kisima II islands in the Southern Division, Jinja City.
The islands are located at the border between Jinja City and Buikwe District, on Lake Victoria.
The confirmation follows investigations by Jinja City’s rapid response team after dozens of residents reported symptoms associated with bilharzia, including fever, headaches, muscle pain, persistent fatigue, and blood in stool.
According to reports from the city health department, a surveillance team was dispatched to the islands last week and collected 50 random samples from residents who attended five community health sensitisation meetings.
Laboratory results showed that 30 of the samples tested positive for bilharzia, prompting health authorities to officially declare an outbreak in the area.
Jinja City Health Officer Fredrick Isabirye attributes the outbreak to poor sanitation practices.
He says that many residents on the islands reportedly defecate along the shoreline while relying on the same water for domestic use, including bathing, cooking, and washing.
Isabirye warns that bilharzia parasites penetrate the body through the skin, exposing affected individuals to long-term organ damage and other chronic health complications if left untreated.
He notes that health educators had previously camped on the islands to sensitise residents on preventive measures against bilharzia, but adherence to the recommended health practices remains low. Isabirye says the city will roll out a mass drug administration campaign and urges residents to cooperate with health workers during the exercise.
By URN
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