KAMPALA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's ministry of health is set to roll out the Oral Cholera Vaccine exercise to contain the outbreak of the disease that has left 44 refugees dead and over 2,000 others hospitalized since Feb. 23.
Charles Olaro, acting Director General Health Services, in a statement on Tuesday said the vaccination exercise scheduled to start next month will be held in Kyangwali and Kyaka II refugee settlements.
The settlements located in the western districts of Hoima and Kyegegwa host thousands of Democratic Republic of the Congo refugees.
"The vaccine is administered in two doses which are given two weeks apart and offers individuals protection of up to 5 years," Olaro said.
Cholera, according to World Health Organization, is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
Uganda Red Cross, a humanitarian organization, says the influx of Congolese refugees has overwhelmed health facilities in the area and led to squalid conditions in the settlements, fueling the outbreak.
The humanitarian organization estimates that 70,000 Congolese have fled to Uganda since the start of the year, 80 percent of them are women and children.
Olaro said the vaccination exercise will also be held in other parts of the country like Buliisa, Pakwach, Nebbi, Kasese, Ntoroko, Zombo, Moyo, Busia, Namayingo and Arua.