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Over 18,000 Cases and 426 Deaths Reported in Cameroon Cholera Crisis

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Nasiru Eneji Abdulrasheed
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Over 18,000 Cases and 426 Deaths Reported in Cameroon Cholera Crisis
<br> Image Credit: Unocha

Since its resurgence on October 29, 2021, the cholera outbreak in Cameroon has continued to inflict devastation on the populace. The Ministry of Public Health (MINSANTÉ) recently reported new figures relating to the outbreak from the period of May 16 to 30, 2023, indicating that 1,070 fresh cases and 26 deaths have been recorded, contributing to the already swelling numbers of this epidemic.

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(Also Read: Ngock Village in Cameroon Prepares for Burial of 14 Tragic Accident Victims)

Adding to the crisis, three additional health districts have been hit by the cholera epidemic; the seaside town of Kribi in the South region, and Awae and Mbankomo in the Centre region. This outbreak has now reached eight out of the country's ten regions, revealing the extensive reach of the disease.

The situation report released by the Ministry of Public Health on May 31 revealed an alarming tally. Within a span of just under two years, there have been 18,322 notified cholera cases. From these, 10.2% (approximately 1,868 cases) have been confirmed by culture. About 24% of the cases are considered severe, and 48.4% moderate. Tragically, the death toll has risen to 426, marking a fatality rate of 2.4%, with the median age of those affected being 28 years old.

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Cholera and Public Health Measures: A Battle on Two Fronts

Three regions in Cameroon, namely the Centre, the South, and the Littoral, currently have reported cases of cholera spread across 22 health districts. Encouragingly, the Far North, North, South West, and East regions have not reported any new cases for over 21 days. The Adamaoua and North West regions remain untouched by the epidemic.

Dr. Albert Ze, a specialist in health economics, considers the ongoing situation in 2023 to be deeply disconcerting. He pointed out that cholera is essentially a disease of unsanitary conditions, making the available vaccines less effective as one cannot be immunized against filth.

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(Also Read: Tragic Incident in Cameroon’s North-West: Lieutenant Killed by Improvised Explosive Device in Mbengwi)

In response to this crisis, the Ministry of Public Health has been implementing several strategies to control the outbreak. These include vaccination and awareness campaigns being ramped up throughout the country. Community health workers are visiting homes across several localities, carrying out detection activities for potential new cases and educating the public on necessary hygiene practices to prevent cholera.

Additionally, as part of the MOH's cholera response strategy, free treatment is provided in treatment units, communities are systematically disinfected, and water purification kits are being distributed.

Health Alert Community Health. Cameroon Cholera Outbreak Public Health Crisis Cholera Epidemic 426 Deaths 18 000 Cases Epidemic Response Global Health Concern Cholera Awareness Safe Water Initiatives Hygiene Education MOH Response
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