Cameroon: Yaounde records over 50 daily cholera cases

A cholera outbreak has hit the city of Yaoundé, with 50 to 60 cases confirmed daily, Cameroon Tribune has reported.

The surge in the number of cases has been blamed on late hospital referral of patients, which accounts for the easy spread of the virus in neighborhoods.

Markets are reported to be the biggest hotspots for the spread of the epidemic. These include the Mfoundi, Djoungolo, Nkoabang, Carrière, Nkolbisson, and Simbock markets, among others.

In response to the outbreak, the Ministry of Public Health has set up cholera treatment centers around the city, where treatment is offered free of charge.

Some of these centers are found in the health districts of Djoungolo, Biyem Assi, Odza, and Mvog Ada.

To protect its populations against the killer disease, the Mayor of Yaoundé VI sealed the Biyem-Assi Acacias market on May 19 to disinfect its premises.

Mayor Yoki Onana also banned the sale of foodstuffs on bare ground at the market.

To reduce the risk of contamination, the Ministry of Public Health has called on the public to comply with basic hygiene measures.

People have been told to wash hands regularly with clean water and soap, wash raw foodstuffs before eating them, drink clean water, and use safe water for cooking.

MINSANTE has also provided a toll-free number, 1510, for people to report cases or obtain helpful information on the disease.

By Amina Hilda