The Ebola virus at the gates of the far North

Two cases of deaths in Nigeria increase the risk of contamination in the Far North region. August 9, 2014, an alert message circulated indicating the presence of the Ebola virus in Douala. But no official release of the Cameroonian health authorities confirmed this information.

However, these same health authorities are unanimous on a possible spread of the Ebola virus epidemic in Cameroon. "The risk of importation of this epidemic among us is real," confirmed André Mama Fouda, Minister of health (MOH) on August 8, 2014, in a press conference.

"The border between Nigeria and Cameroon is a long border and the risks are the same," adds Dr. Brekmo Kaoussiri, head of fight against cholera and outbreaks in the Extreme North.

Although "no suspected case has been reported in Cameroon" so far the threat is still real stated the MOH.

Indeed, the movement of people and trade between the far north of the country and northeast of Nigeria are important, as the two parties constitute a socio-cultural area and now face common dangers: attacks from the Islamist group Boko Haram, the cholera epidemic and, if nothing is done, the Ebola outbreak.

In addressing the three health emergencies of concern of the hour during the press conference Friday, August 8, André Mama Fouda wished to clarify that "faced with this situation, the Ministry of public health has set up a national Committee in response to epidemics and health emergencies".