On social media, there are rumors about a coronavirus (Covid-19) case detected in Douala. "A confirmed case of coronavirus has been reportedly detected in the Kenya Airways flight that just landed in the economic capital of Cameroon, barely 1 hour ago. The sick passenger, obviously a European, tried to bribe the health agents in charge of the test in order to pass but, he was firmly rejected by the agent. Currently, he is in the hands of health officials," wrote "Le TGV de l'info", in French on its Facebook page on March 17.  

Another rumor claims that the economic capital, Douala, has already recorded its first death related to the virus. This information is false. Health authorities reported no cases of Covid-19 in Douala, let alone deaths. In addition, coronavirus tests are not done at airports. "Checks are carried out at airports to detect suspicious cases by taking the temperature of passengers, among other things. But since the symptoms are similar to those of cold or flu, only the tests can definitively confirm cases or not," says a medical source.

The only confirmed cases so far were reported in Yaoundé. According to official sources, Cameroon had 10 infected people and zero deaths as of March 17, 2020. "Unfortunately, I would like to announce the confirmation of 5 more cases in Yaoundé, Cameroon, bringing the total number of patients in our country to 10," the Minister of Public Health Manaouda Malachie announced on his Twitter account on Tuesday. All these cases are being treated at the Covid-19 care center in the Yaoundé Central Hospital.

Patricia Ngo Ngouem