Cameroon: 2021 - 2022 Measles

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.journalducameroun.com/en...-in-few-weeks/

Cameroon: Over 200 cases of measles, four deaths recorded in few weeks
Published on 22.06.2021 at 16h38 by journal du Cameroun

214 cases of measles, four deaths and 1,347 suspected cases have been recorded in few weeks in seven out of Cameroon’s ten regions with the localities of Yokadouma in the East and Ntui in the Centre as most hard hit.

This information was revealed by officials of the Expanded Immunization Programme last weekend after an analysis of the country’s measles epidemiological situation.

According to the report presented by the programme, the districts of Ntui, Mfou and Cite Verte in the Centre region counts 43 cases, Bankim Ngaoundal and Banyo in the Adamawa region counts 37 cases, 18 cases in Malentouen and Foumban in the West region, 16 cases in Maga, Mogode and Koussseri in the Far North, ten cases in Edea, Littoral, 9 in the South, 5 in the North, 7 in the South West and 4 in the North West.

The East region tops the chart of infections with 96 cases recorded in the localities of Yokadouma, Bertoua and Moloundou...

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 41: 4 - 10 October 2021
Data as reported by: 17:00; 10 October 2021
...

Measles Cameroon

380 Cases
8 Death
2.1% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

A measles outbreak has been ongoing in Cameroon since the
beginning of 2021. The affected health districts are from seven
regions of Adamaoua, Centre, East, Far-North, Littoral, Northwest
and West. The regions hosting refugee camps and internally
displaced persons (IDPs) have the highest number of affected
health districts: eight health districts in the Far-North region; five
health districts in East region and three health districts in Adamawa
region.

A total of 380 measles cases including 214 confirmed positive for
IgM, 158 clinically compatible and eight deaths (Case Fatality Ratio
(CFR) = 2.1%) were reported from week 1 to week 38 (ending 26
September 2021) 2021. The overall attack rate is 1.4 per 100.000
population. A total of 23 health districts are currently experiencing a
measles outbreak, including 21 with a confirmed outbreak and two
with a suspected outbreak.

The peak of the reported cases was reached at week 12 (ending 28
March 2021). The last death among cases was registered in week 18
(ending 9 May 2021). Most of the cases, (73.4%) 279 are between 9
months and 9 years old followed by the age group under 9 months
with 40 cases (10.5%). The most affected region is the East region
with an attack rate of 7.3 per 100.000 population followed by the
regions of Adamaoua 5.3 per 100.000 population and Far-North
region 1.6 per 100.000 population.

Among the affected districts, 73.9% (15/23) carried out an in-depth
investigation of the notified cases. Of the 23 health districts with
an ongoing outbreak, only four (17.4%) have reached at least 80%
of their targeted children (9-59 months old) vaccinated against
measles from January to August 2021. Eight of the 23 (34.8%)
health districts with an outbreak have less than 50% of routine
immunization coverage rate for measles first dose, while (69.6%)
16 out of 23 health districts in outbreak have less than 50% of
routine immunization coverage rate for the measles second dose.
Thus far, only five affected health districts (21.7%) have organized
tangible response activities.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Close follow up from the central level of the MoH for activities
carried out in the affected health districts is ongoing as well as
encouraging all affected health districts to carry out in-depth
case investigations

Local response carried out in five affected health districts of
Bankim, Ngaoundal, Batouri, Lomié and Moloundou
Monitoring and training of the affected health districts on
outbreak reporting and microplanning for the response is
ongoing

Regular updates of the measles databases and dashboards for
effective monitoring of the affected health districts continues

The preparations for outbreak response in the affected health
districts that have not yet organized any response is underway.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

The frequent measles outbreaks in Cameroon could be attributed
to the low immunization coverage against the disease. Among all
the currently affected health districts, none of them has achieved
the target coverage rate for complete routine immunization against
measles as recommended by the national immunization program
(≥ 80%). More to that, the delays in case investigations as well
as response activities in the affected health districts are also
affecting the overall capacity to control this outbreak. The regions
hosting refugees and IDP camps have recorded higher attack rates
compared to other affected regions. In addition, the Covid-19
pandemic has impacted health systems of most African countries
including Cameroon.

PROPOSED ACTIONS

Routine measles immunization for children, combined with
reactive mass immunization campaigns, are key public health
strategies to reduce the measles cases and deaths. It is
therefore essential to improve vaccination coverage to reduce
the risk of future outbreaks. The required resources and efforts
should be deployed to achieve the goals of the national measles
immunization program.

Weaknesses already identified around case investigation,
response and epidemiological surveillance for measles need
to be addressed.

More attention should be given to health districts hosting
refugees and IDP camps the living conditions in these settings
is a significant factor of the rapid spread of measles.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/346225/OEW41-0410102021.pdf

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.voanews.com/a/cameroon-l...k/6339395.html

Cameroon Launches Vaccination Campaign to Contain Measles Outbreak
December 04, 2021 9:20 AM
Moki Edwin Kindzeka

MERI, CAMEROON —

Cameroon has begun a measles vaccination drive on its northern border with Nigeria after several dozen children were found with the infection at a demobilization center. Cameroon says most of those infected are children of former fighters fleeing Boko Haram terrorism...

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Translation Google

Measles epidemic: already 5 dead for nearly 80 recorded cases

RELEASED ON TUESDAY, 01 MARCH 2022 16:52

A new count from the National Public Health Observatory (ONSP) reports 15 new cases of measles detected across the country. These are in addition to the 64 cases detected a week earlier for a total of 79 patients identified in at least 27 health districts.

According to the Expanded Vaccination Program (EPI), 5 deaths have already been recorded. The health districts of Yoko, Ntui and Bafia are the most affected. It is also in the hospital structures of these administrative units that a vaccination campaign will be deployed from March 2. "This campaign is aimed at children aged 6 months to 9 years" , specifies the EPI.

Other health districts are also affected. This is the case of Kribi, Ambam, Sangmélima, Batouri, Bankim, Foumba, etc.

As a reminder, in June 2021, more than 200 cases were recorded in seven regions with more than 1,300 suspected cases.

THE
https://www.stopblablacam.com/societ...stres-au-camer

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 29: 11 - 17 July 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 17 July 2022
...

Measles Cameroon

3 702 cases
28 Deaths
0.8% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Cameroon has been experiencing a measles outbreak since 2021.
From week 1 to week 26 2022, a total of 3 702 suspected cases
of measles, 1 387 confirmed and 28 deaths (case fatality ratio
(CFR) = 0.8%) have been reported in Cameroon. Of the 1 387
confirmed cases, 1 248 (90%) cases are less than 10 years,
while 832 (60%) cases are between 9 and 59 months of age.
In addition, 433 cases have been laboratory confirmed, 47 were
clinically compatible and 907 epidemiologically linked. A total of
1 028 (74.1%) cases reported not to have history of measles
vaccination or had no proof of vaccination.

The Far-North region is leading in number of confirmed cases
reported with 367 cases (26.5%), followed by the Centre
region (294 cases), Littoral (179 cases) and South region with
178 cases. The South-West region has the lowest number of
confirmed cases reported so far with 21 cases.

Among the reported cases, 2 005 (54.2%) cases have been
investigated giving an investigation rate of 7.6 cases per 100
000 populations (target: ≥ 2 cases/100 000 populations) which
is a good performance compared to last year (5.1 cases/100 000
populations). About 86.3% health districts (target: ≥ 80%) have
investigated at least one reported case compared to 68.0% for
the same period last year.

The overall attack rate for this year is 51.9 per 1 000 000
population which is higher compared to previous year for the
same period (14.9 per 1 000 000 population). The South region
has the highest attack rate with 114.5 per 1000 000 population
followed by Adamaoua region with 90.2 per 1 000 000 population
and the North-West region has the lowest attack rate with 9.1 per
1 000 000 population.

The ongoing measles outbreak in Cameroon can be considered as
an extension of the previous year outbreak for which an upward
trend in number of confirmed measles cases reported was
observed since week 46 2021 (ending 21 November) and peaking
at week 5 2022 (ending 6 February) with a weekly number of
confirmed cases at 131. From week 5 to week 12 2022 (ending
12 March), an average of 98 confirmed cases have been reported
weekly, followed by a downward trend reported from week 13
(ending 3 April) to week 26 (ending July 3) 2022.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Strengthened surveillance activities with localized responses
are ongoing within districts. Case investigation has been
conducted in majority (86.3%) of the district that reported
suspected cases.

Local measles outbreak vaccinations have been conducted
in three districts (Yoko, Ntui and Bafia) with locally mobilized
resources achieving 105%, 90.6% and 97.8% of vaccination
coverage respectively.

The Measles and Rubella Initiative request has been submitted
on the measles partner platform for possible funding support
for outbreak response in 28 districts targeting 1 183 653
children aged between 9 to 59 months. The projected dates
for this reactive vaccination campaign are from 24 to 28
August 2022.

Regular updates of the measles databases and dashboards
for effective monitoring of the affected health districts
continues.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

Measles remains a threat in Cameroon due to sub-optimal
routine immunisation and catchup campaigns. The magnitude
of this year’s measles outbreak is higher compared to last year
for the same period. Although surveillance indicators have
improved compared to last year, required efforts should be
deployed to improve measles vaccination coverage which is
still very low, according to the2021-WHO/UNICEF estimates of
national immunization coverage. The planned reactive vaccination
campaign is welcome, as it will highlight the importance of
the importance of keeping high routine vaccine coverage and
maintaining effective supplemental activities.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/360510/OEW29-1117072022.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y