Authorities have asked the population of Kumba in the Meme Division of the South West region to remain calm after recording 40 cases of schistosomiasis.
Dr. Eko Eko Filbert, the South West Regional Delegate of Public Health, made the call.
“There is no need to panic. It is not an acute pathology,” he said.
Schistosomiasis is a disease that manifests itself through bloody urine, itchy body and diarrhoea.
It spreads primarily through contact with water contaminated by the worms responsible for the disease.
Medica say it attacks mostly children below the age of 14.
The South West Public Health Delegate, in an interview with CRTV, said only Kumba North and Kumba South health districts have recorded cases of the disease.
Victims of the 40 cases confirmed so far are below the age of 20.
He also reassured the population that the disease is 100 percent treatable.
Meanwhile, he told the state broadcaster that medical teams have collected urine from patients to examine the disease and know how to respond to the outbreak.
Before his outing, the Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, Ntou’ou Ndong Chamberlin, reacted.
In a release, the SDO said the epidemic has affected some specific communities. Among these were Tancha, Ntam I, II, III, Mahole, Mambanda I and II, Pung-Pung, Nshie-Nshie (Kosala II and V), and Pulletin quarters in Kumba.
The Meme SDO further invited all traditional and religious authorities, the education community, parents and guardians, and the entire population to immediately stop swimming, bathing, and drinking from streams and rivers in Kumba to curb its spread.
“In the same vein, the population of Kumba is invited not to panic, as all the medical personnel under the authority of the various District Medical Officers are working hard to neutralise the pathogens of that disease.”
He urged all infected individuals to report to the nearest health facility, where they implement adequate measures and treatment to stem the spread of the disease.
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