Cameroon’s ministry of Public Health Announces  two confirmed Cases of Corona Virus in Cameroon Urges citizens to stay calm

Yesterday, Friday, 6th of March, 2020, Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health, released 2 communiques to announce the confirmation of 2 cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Cameroon.

In the first communique (released yesterday morning 6th March), the Ministry of public health revealed that the deadly Corona virus was first detected on a 58 year old French citizen who arrived in Yaounde on the 24th of February, 2020.

The ministry of public health also revealed that the case of Corona Virus was detected by the active surveillance team put in place by Cameroon government since the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in China.

The communique also revealed that the French man suffering from Coronavirus, has been placed in solitary confinement in the Care Centre of the Yaounde Central Hospital for appropriate treatment.

In the first communique, Cameroon’s minister of public health; Dr. Manaounda Malachie assured the public that all measures are being taken by the government to contain the possible risk of the spread of the virus hence the ministry of public health urges Cameroonians to be vigilant and respect hygiene rules.

In the evening of March 6th (on that same day), barely hours after Minister Manaounda Malache released a communique to announce the first confirmed case of Corona virus in Cameroon, he later released another communique in the evening, to announced that a second confirmed case of Corona virus has been detected.

Minister Manaouda Malachie revealed via the second communique, that the second victim; who is a Cameroonian, has been in close contact with the 58 year old French Citizen who was detected with the virus.

This is so far the second Cameroonian who has contracted the disease. Kem Senou Pavel Darly was the first Cameroonian who got infected in China.

In the  second communique, the Public health Minister says that both patients have been quarantined and are currently receiving medical care at the Isolation Unit of the Yaounde Central Hospital..

However, the two communiques released by the ministry of public health didn’t reveal if all the people who board the same plane with the French citizen or have come in contact with the victim, have been identified and kept under surveillance. This has caused many Cameroonians (especially those in Yaounde) to leave in fear as many potential carriers of the virus could be circulating in the streets of Cameroon and interacting with unsuspecting Cameroonians.

After news about the confirmation of cases of corona virus infection was made public, many Cameroonians have taken to their social media accounts, to question why the ministry of public health made the announcement on the 6th of March, 2020 meanwhile the French citizen arrived Cameroon on the 24th of March.

During an interview granted to the CRTV, Public Health Minister, Manaouda Malachie tried to provide answers to some of the questions raised by some curious Cameroonians.

Minister Manaouda Malachie said…

” What we have to understand in simple terms is that the Coronavirus in simple, is an influenza which can happen anywhere, but there are factors for acceleration which are diverse. These confirmed cases are people who came from other countries, but who travelled not knowing what was happening to them. They arrived Cameroon on February 24, weren’t sick and weren’t running a temperature. There was no sign at all. It’s from the 27th they began to feel feverish. But he is not coughing , hasn’t got runny nostrils , and is less contagious than others. So we are optimistic that we can confine him and go on with treatment. But it is good for the population to continue to strictly adhere to security rules, and not give in to panic. Above all, if someone feels sick, and suspects  it could be the Coronavirus, they should not go to the hospital, but call 1510. Health workers will pick him up from their residence, because not every health personnel can take care of a Coronavirus patient “. Public Health Minister, Manaouda Malachie.”

It should be noted that the first cases of the virus was recorded in Cameroon barely four days after the Minister of public health visited the Nsimalen International Airport to assess screening of passengers from other countries.

There’s an urgent need for the Cameroon government to curb the spread of this deadly virus not only because human lives are at stake, but because a corona virus epidemic may prevent Cameroon from hosting the highly anticipated football tournaments.

2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN 2020) to be hosted by Cameroon, is around the corner (which will kick off in April, 2020).

Given that Cameroon has invested tons of cash in the fruitless fight against the Ambazonia fighters in the North West region, Boko Haram terrorists in the Far North and also spent billions in the construction of stadiums to host the upcoming football tournaments, many Cameroonians are wondering if Cameroon government has the necessary financial resource to tackle the imminent Corona virus epidemic in Cameroon amid war in the aforementioned regions of Cameroon.

Cameroon is now the 4th country in Africa to confirm cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) joining Nigeria, Algeria and Seneral.

– Algeria has recorded 12 cases & Corona virus & no death
– Senegal has recorded 4 cases of Corona virus & no death
– Nigeria has recorded 1 case of Corona virus and no death

Our ears are still on the ground. We shall bring you more information as the story unfolds.

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