Durch Luft und Wasser übertragene Krankheiten

Abstrakt

The Difficulties in Controlling the Cholera Epidemic in Cameroon

Shuaibu Saidu Musa

An intestinal illness called cholera is brought on by consuming water or food that has been tainted with the toxins produced by the Vibrio cholerae bacteria. Poor hygienic settings and bad hygiene habits make it more contagious [1-6]. People who are affected may exhibit severe symptoms such watery diarrhoea and vomiting, which can quickly result in death. The cholera outbreak in Cameroon is at its deadliest level in decades. The South-West and the Littoral regions are where the outbreak is most severe. As of the time of writing, 6652 suspected cases of cholera,including 134 deaths (CFR 2%) have been documented in six regions of the country, and the number is growing.The outbreak has been made worse by a lack of clean drinking water and river contamination, especially in remote and difficult-to-reach areas.

It has been particularly difficult to contain the outbreak due to trans-border travel in the South-West region,open defecation in waterways, and overpopulation in the Littoral region. Despite the difficulties, Cameroon's health authorities have been striving to control the crisis by conducting community programmes to promote proper hygiene practises, house cleaning, and vaccinations. It is advised that Cameroon strengthen and improve its nationwide immunisation effort in light of these. To stop cross-border cholera transmission and retransmission, adequate health services should be developed at the site of entrance. In order to offer vaccinations, essential medical treatment, and sanitation services like the provision of clean water, access to remote populations needs to be enhanced.