By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The government of Cameroon, through the Minister of Public Health, has called on citizens to respect basic hygiene rules, such as washing hands regularly with running water and soap, to avoid the risk of being contaminated with Monkeypox (MPOX).
In a communiqué issued on August 16 and signed by the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, the Minister recommends that people should immediately go to the nearest health facility as soon as symptoms appear.
The government alert comes on the heels of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of MPOX as a “Public Health Emergency of Continental Concern on August 13.”
The Minister pointed out that washing hands regularly with clean running water and soap should be done especially after handling an animal or a product of animal origin or caring for a sick person with symptoms of MPOX.
Apart from that, citizens have also been cautioned to avoid contact with the body fluids of sick people, including unprotected sex, avoid contact with sick or dead animals, and wash and eat well-cooked and hot food. The Minister also reminded health personnel and facilities that MPOX treatment is free of charge.
On August 13, the WHO declared MPOX a “Public Health Emergency of Continental Concern” after the epidemic broke out in the DRC and spread to many African countries. According to Minister Manaouda, Cameroon needs to redouble its vigilance, especially since an active epidemic is currently rife in certain border regions of the Central African Republic (CAR).
With Cameroon known to be endemic for MPOX nearly every year, the Southwest, Northwest, Littoral Center, and East regions are commonly most affected. In 2024, the Ministry of Public Health reported approximately 30 suspected cases, with five confirmed cases and two deaths.
The active outbreaks, according to the Minister, have been in the Southwest (Mbonge, Buea, and Limbe Health Districts) and Northwest (Njikwa and Bamenda Health Districts) regions. While measures have been taken, especially strengthening epidemiological surveillance in risk zones, investigations and active searches for cases and contact persons in epidemic health districts are ongoing.
“Sensitization and community mobilization activities are also being strengthened,” the Minister stated in a communiqué.
Since the outbreak of MPOX, Sweden is the first country outside of Africa to have registered the disease. Pakistan has also registered cases. MPOX was first declared a “Public Health Emergency of Continental Concern” in 2022 and spread to over 70 countries.
It was largely contained due to the availability of the vaccine, but there was limited vaccine in Africa. The current outbreak is affecting children, and over 500 people have already died from it.
MPOX is a disease transmitted from animals to humans through rodents. Human-to-human transmission is also possible through direct contact with infected skin, through sex, and other means. It most often manifests as skin rashes accompanied by fever.
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