Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 20 : 12 May - 18 May 2018
Monkeypox Cameroon
7
Cases
0
Deaths
0%
CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
On 15 May 2018, the Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon notified WHO
of an outbreak of monkeypox in Njikwa District in the north-west region
of the country. The event was initially reported on 30 April 2018 when
a cluster of two case-patients presented to a local health facility with
fever, headache and lymphadenopathy, later followed by skin rashes.
Biological specimens, including swabbing of the skin lesions and blood
serum, were collected from the initial case-patients and shipped to the
Centre Pasteur du Cameroun (CPC). Test results released by the CPC on
14 May 2018 showed that one of the two specimens was positive for
orthopoxvirus by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Accordingly, the
Ministry of Public Health formally declared an outbreak of monkeypox
on 15 May 2018.
Active case search conducted by the rapid response team identified five
additional suspected cases of monkeypox. As of 15 May 2018, a total
of seven suspected cases have been reported, one of which has been
confirmed. No deaths have so far been reported. Two districts have so
far been affected, namely Njikwa (5 cases) in North-West Region and
Akwaya (2 cases) in the South-east Region. A preliminary investigation
(reportedly) established that the index case, a guard in a game park,
handled a gorilla three weeks preceding his illness. Further epidemiologic
investigations are being conducted.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
The Ministry of Health convened an emergency coordination
meeting to assess the outbreak situation and plan for response
interventions. An incident management system has been activated at the sub-national level.
An outbreak response plan is under development, articulating the control strategies and activities and detailing the required resources.
Active epidemiological surveillance is being strengthened in the affected regions, including investigtions to identify the source of infection, active search for
additional cases, follow up of contacts, and collection of laboratory specimens to facilitate confirmation.
Infection prevention and control measures are being enhanced at the health facilities as well as capacity for case management.
Health emergency information products, including situation reports and a press release have been prepared and disseminated to key stakeholders and the general
public, respectively.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
An outbreak of monkeypox has occurred in Cameroon, coming after about three decades since the last human case was reported in the country in 1989. Only three
human cases of monkeypox had previously been reported in the country: the first case occurred in 1979 in the forest zone of South-East Region, the second case in
1980 in the East Region and the third case in the Central Region (in 1989). However, a monkeypox outbreak occurred among captive chimpanzees in 2014.
Since 2016, there has been an apparent increase in human monkeypox cases across the African Region, with outbreaks occurring in Central African Republic, Congo,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. The cases are mostly being reported from rural areas where occupational activities such as
farming and hunting are increasing the risk of animal-to-human transmission.
The potential for further spread and the lack of reliable surveillance remain a concern for this emerging zoonosis. The confirmation of monkeypox in Cameroon,
therefore, underscores the need to maintain high level of vigilance and raise awareness of the disease among the local population. Communication and education for
people on how to prevent the disease by avoiding contact with wild animals, particularly rodents and primates, are important. Healthcare workers also need to observe
standard precautions when taking care of symptomatic patients and isolate them from others. Furthermore, gaps in knowledge about the epidemiology and ecology of
the virus need to be addressed as a priority research agenda to design, recommend and implement needed prevention and control measures.
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/h...1218052018.pdf
http://www.afro.who.int/publications...ay-18-may-2018
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