A health ministry official on Thursday said an additional 26 people have died in the continuing cholera outbreak in Cameroon in the previous two weeks, bringing the total death toll to 426.
According to the World Health Organisation, the outbreak was declared in October 2021 and has witnessed a significant spike in infections since late March of this year following a period of low transmission.
A ministry spokeswoman named Linda Esso reported that there are already 1,868 confirmed cases in Cameroon.
Cholera is primarily spread through contaminated food or water and can result in acute diarrhoea, vomiting, and weakness. If left untreated, it can kill within hours. According to a study released by the WHO on Thursday, instances have been reported in 14 African nations since the year 2023 began.
It claimed that the higher case fatality ratios reported by numerous countries than in prior years concerned it in particular.
The likelihood that a case will prove fatal in Cameroon is increased since “more than 79% of cases reach health facilities in a moderate or severe state,” according to a situation report from the health ministry.