Cameroon’s status as a country that has eradicated the wild poliovirus, achieved in June 2020, is under threat due to a resurgence of new cases, reveals Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance on Tuesday, relaying the fears of Professor Tetanye Ekoe, chairman of the National Polio Eradication Certification Committee.

Last year, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) reported 13 new cases of polio in Cameroon. Notably, 12 of these cases were imported, primarily from neighboring countries. Chad alone reported 52 cases last year. The continuous importation of cases complicates the situation and poses a real threat to Cameroon’s status, admits Ekoe.

In response, the Gavi alliance has encouraged Cameroon and its neighbors to synchronize their efforts. A large-scale vaccination campaign for children aged 0 to 5 was jointly organized from March 1 to 3, with a follow-up session. However, it is too early to comment on the effectiveness of the campaign, especially as some parents are reportedly against vaccinating their children.

“To contain the spread of the circulating polio virus, the scientific community is relying on the mobilization of parents and families to vaccinate all children under the age of 5,” says Ekoe.

Michel Ange Nga