Cholera has once again resurfaced in Cameroon. The South and Southwest regions of the country are at the center of this epidemic. A total of nine cases with one death have been recorded so far with the Southwest region having the most infections (7). The suspected cases in the Southwest region were confirmed at the Buea Regional Hospital and Tiko, meanwhile on September 20, in Mboamanga neighborhood a case was confirmed in Kribi.
In the south region an inmate in the Kribi Central prison was confirmed by a group of specialists called Doctors without Borders. Upon running a test, it was discovered that the 31 year old man had been infected by the Cholera epidemic. Upon re affirming this news the rest of the inmates in this prison are left with fear as they show signs of the infections according to media reports. With the poor sanitary conditions in the prison, the inmates are likely to be contaminated. Moreover, with the recent occurrence of floods and continuing of rains in the country the Region is highly exposed to waterborne diseases such as cholera.
Kribi Central Prison
According to the United Nations, Cholera is an acute enteric infection caused by the ingestion of Vibrio cholerae bacteria present in faecal contaminated water or food. It is primarily linked to insufficient access to safe water and adequate sanitation. Cholera is a potentially serious infectious disease and can cause high morbidity and mortality. It has the potential to spread rapidly, depending on the frequency of exposure, the population exposed, and the context. Cholera is an extremely virulent disease that can cause severe acute watery diarrhea. It takes between 12 hours and 5 days for a person to show symptoms after ingesting contaminated food or water (2). Cholera affects both children and adults and can kill within hours if untreated.
Cameroon is exceedingly faced with problems of getting potable water and with the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the country, shortage of food is taking over with prices of food items tripling and making it hard for the people to void themselves from unhealthy food items and causing commuties to get drinking water from untrusted sources.
