Cameroon – 75 Cases of A/ H1N1 Flu Identified

After the recognition of the A/H1N1 virus in Mexico in April 2009 and its verification by the World Health Organization (WHO), Cameroon’s Public Health Ministry has reported 75 cases detected in the Central African country.

“The disease affected Cameroon just like other African countries. According to a ministerial note obtained by Xinhua on October 14, 2010, 75 cases had been reported in Cameroon. By May 26, 2010, 35 African countries had officially notified WHO regional office of the 18,598 confirmed cases of the A/H1N1 virus and 168 deaths, which included 12,640 cases and 93 deaths in South Africa alone.

Out of the country’s 10 administrative regions, seven reported the flu infection. The central region reported 24 cases, the highest of all. It was followed by the southwestern region with 17 cases, northwestern with 13, eastern and western regions each with seven cases, the northern region with four and the coastal region with one.

The health authorities were pleased by the fact that no deaths were reported.

As a preventive measure, the Cameroonian Public Health Ministry acquired 1,000 doses of vaccines for Cameroonians who were going to South Africa for the World Cup.

Under the same objective, the ministry has announced a massive vaccination campaign on Oct. 26-30 throughout the territory.

The vaccination campaign will target pregnant women, children ages five to 15 and people suffering from diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and HIV/AIDS.

This free vaccination exercise was announced by Public Health Minister Andre Mama Fouda during a press conference on Thursday in the capital Yaounde, with a target of 1 million people.

The Public Health Minister noted that the vaccines had been obtained from WHO and the exercise was made possible through support from development partners.

A report from World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that about 65 million people have so far received the A/ H1N1 flu vaccine with 16 countries currently carries out vaccination campaigns.