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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 45: 1 – 7 November 2021
Data as reported by: 17:00; 7 November 2021
...
Cholera Cameroon
67 Cases
5 Death
7.4% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The ongoing cholera outbreak was declared in week 43 (ending 31
October) by Cameroonian health authorities following confirmation
of cholera in stool samples from health districts of Ekondo Titi in
the South-West region and Biyem-Assi in the Centre region (in the
capital city of Yaoundé). However, suspected cases of cholera have
been reported in five (50%) (Far North, North, Center, Littoral and
Southwest) out of ten regions since the beginning of this year but had
not been confirmed.
As of 2 November 2021, a total of 67 suspected cases including three
confirmed and five deaths (case fatality ratio (CFR 7.4%) had been
reported in Cameroon. Deaths have been reported from the regions
of Sud-Ouest (3 deaths), Center (1 death) and Littoral (1 death). The
outbreak is still active in two regions: Centre and South-West. Males
have been more affected than females. Among the reported cases,
children under 5 years (13 cases, 18%) are the most affected.
For the Centre region, 32 suspected cases of cholera, one confirmed
by culture and one death (CFR 3.1%) have been reported since the
beginning of this year. The urban health district of Biyem-Assi is the
only one affected so far and located in the capital city of Yaoundé. The
index case is a 40-year-old lady living in the health area of Akok-Ndoe.
She is reported to having prepared and served a traditional meal with
water from an unprotected community water point during a meeting
of ten women. These ten members fell ill in turn and many of them
were admitted for severe dehydration as well as several of their close
contacts.
Regarding the South-West region, as of 2 November 2021, a total of
23 suspected cases of cholera, including two confirmed by culture,
three deaths (CFR 13.1%) have been reported. On 27 October 2021,
a nurse working at the Bamusso Integrated Health Center, in the
health district of Ekondo Titi collected two samples from two cholera
suspects. These samples were from two Nigerian fishermen, aged
36-years and 23-years old living in Bamusso city of Ekondo Titi health
district. Ekondo Titi health district is part of the cholera belt in the
South-West region of Cameroon.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
Central and regional cholera crisis meetings were organized with
the activation of the incident management systems at each level.
Investigation teams have been deployed in the affected areas
Ministry of health together with its partners are currently
conducting community sensitization on cholera and disinfecting
households of affected families.
The provision of the cholera supplies for case management and
infection prevention and control in the affected districts have
been done
Strengthening of surveillance in all health areas of the affected
health districts and surrounding health districts is ongoing .
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Cameroon is particularly exposed to cholera due to several
factors: its geographical location in the cholera endemic Lake
Chad and Congo basins, the circulation of the vibrio cholerae in
the country especially in the northern, Littoral, Centre, and SouthWest regions,
and the limited access to drinking water in some
areas including in the capital city of Yaoundé as well as cultural
orientation that promote unsafe practices for cholera spread.
Although the magnitude of the ongoing cholera outbreak seems
to be less than the prior year, the risk of rapid spread throughout
the country is high given the cross-border movements with
countries that are experiencing cholera outbreak as well as the
occurrence of the cholera outbreak in the South-West region
which is characterized by difficult access and insecurity.
PROPOSED ACTIONS
In the affected areas, coordination of all partners involved in
the outbreak response is necessary to ensure the effectiveness
of the response. Appropriate response strategies must be
developed for the difficult-to-reach areas. It is also important to
strengthen cross-border collaboration in order to limit the transborder
transmissions.
Cameroon has mapped at-risk areas for cholera, it is therefore
important to strengthen preparedness in these hotspot areas,
especially to reinforce surveillance, risk communication, the
pre-positioning of cholera supplies and capacity building of
human resources for cholera outbreak management.
...
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 45: 1 – 7 November 2021
Data as reported by: 17:00; 7 November 2021
...
Cholera Cameroon
67 Cases
5 Death
7.4% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The ongoing cholera outbreak was declared in week 43 (ending 31
October) by Cameroonian health authorities following confirmation
of cholera in stool samples from health districts of Ekondo Titi in
the South-West region and Biyem-Assi in the Centre region (in the
capital city of Yaoundé). However, suspected cases of cholera have
been reported in five (50%) (Far North, North, Center, Littoral and
Southwest) out of ten regions since the beginning of this year but had
not been confirmed.
As of 2 November 2021, a total of 67 suspected cases including three
confirmed and five deaths (case fatality ratio (CFR 7.4%) had been
reported in Cameroon. Deaths have been reported from the regions
of Sud-Ouest (3 deaths), Center (1 death) and Littoral (1 death). The
outbreak is still active in two regions: Centre and South-West. Males
have been more affected than females. Among the reported cases,
children under 5 years (13 cases, 18%) are the most affected.
For the Centre region, 32 suspected cases of cholera, one confirmed
by culture and one death (CFR 3.1%) have been reported since the
beginning of this year. The urban health district of Biyem-Assi is the
only one affected so far and located in the capital city of Yaoundé. The
index case is a 40-year-old lady living in the health area of Akok-Ndoe.
She is reported to having prepared and served a traditional meal with
water from an unprotected community water point during a meeting
of ten women. These ten members fell ill in turn and many of them
were admitted for severe dehydration as well as several of their close
contacts.
Regarding the South-West region, as of 2 November 2021, a total of
23 suspected cases of cholera, including two confirmed by culture,
three deaths (CFR 13.1%) have been reported. On 27 October 2021,
a nurse working at the Bamusso Integrated Health Center, in the
health district of Ekondo Titi collected two samples from two cholera
suspects. These samples were from two Nigerian fishermen, aged
36-years and 23-years old living in Bamusso city of Ekondo Titi health
district. Ekondo Titi health district is part of the cholera belt in the
South-West region of Cameroon.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
Central and regional cholera crisis meetings were organized with
the activation of the incident management systems at each level.
Investigation teams have been deployed in the affected areas
Ministry of health together with its partners are currently
conducting community sensitization on cholera and disinfecting
households of affected families.
The provision of the cholera supplies for case management and
infection prevention and control in the affected districts have
been done
Strengthening of surveillance in all health areas of the affected
health districts and surrounding health districts is ongoing .
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Cameroon is particularly exposed to cholera due to several
factors: its geographical location in the cholera endemic Lake
Chad and Congo basins, the circulation of the vibrio cholerae in
the country especially in the northern, Littoral, Centre, and SouthWest regions,
and the limited access to drinking water in some
areas including in the capital city of Yaoundé as well as cultural
orientation that promote unsafe practices for cholera spread.
Although the magnitude of the ongoing cholera outbreak seems
to be less than the prior year, the risk of rapid spread throughout
the country is high given the cross-border movements with
countries that are experiencing cholera outbreak as well as the
occurrence of the cholera outbreak in the South-West region
which is characterized by difficult access and insecurity.
PROPOSED ACTIONS
In the affected areas, coordination of all partners involved in
the outbreak response is necessary to ensure the effectiveness
of the response. Appropriate response strategies must be
developed for the difficult-to-reach areas. It is also important to
strengthen cross-border collaboration in order to limit the transborder
transmissions.
Cameroon has mapped at-risk areas for cholera, it is therefore
important to strengthen preparedness in these hotspot areas,
especially to reinforce surveillance, risk communication, the
pre-positioning of cholera supplies and capacity building of
human resources for cholera outbreak management.
...
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