The Cholera epidemic continues in Cameroon, with four regions still affected, and the Central region remaining the hardest hit, according to an official report from April. The other affected regions are the Littoral, the West, and the South.
The report revealed that out of the 380 new cases reported from April 24 to 30, 373 were in the Central region, which also recorded all 16 cholera-related deaths over the same period. On April 19, the Minister of Public Health (Minsanté), Manaouda Malachie, announced that Yaoundé, the regional capital of the Central region, "has been experiencing a resurgence of cholera cases for four weeks”. Men between the ages of 21 and 30 are the most affected group, health authorities said.
The current cholera outbreaks in Cameroon are attributed to several risk factors including limited access to safe drinking water, inadequate water and sanitation conditions, and weak mobilization of communities for environmental sanitation. The lack of drinking water in cholera treatment centers is also recognized as an obstacle in the fight against the disease.