Cholera on the rise
The cholera outbreak was declared in October 2021 and has seen a sharp rise in cases since the end of March this year, after a period of low transmission, according to the World Health Organization. The number of confirmed cases of cholera patients in Cameroon now stands at 1,868, said Linda Esso, an official at the Ministry of Public Health.
Cholera may cause severe diarrhea, vomiting and weakness. It is mainly transmitted through contaminated water or food. It can kill within hours if left untreated. Fourteen African countries have reported cases since the beginning of 2023, WHO said in a report released on Thursday 1is June 2023.
She says she is particularly concerned that many countries are reporting higher case fatality rates than in previous years. In Cameroon, “more than 79% of cases reach health facilities in moderate or serious condition”, which increases the risk of death, the health ministry said in a situation report. The proliferation of cholera cases coupled with deaths seriously questions the country’s ambitions to be emerging in 2035.