Heavy rains over the past days left at least 8 dead and thousands homeless in northern Cameroon, especially in the Pouss area. Based on a preliminary toll released by the government cited by the Cameroon Tribune, eight are dead, nine seriously injured and some 4,000 have lost everything after heavy rains and very strong winds hit the Extreme Northern region between last Thursday and Sunday, sweeping away small makeshift homes. According to experts, the heavy rainfall this season is causing a faster spread of a cholera outbreak that began at the start of June. Based on the latest toll issued by the government, the outbreak has killed 77 people in northern Cameroon since early June, the government said on Monday, raising concern that the worst epidemic since 2004 may spread into neighbouring Nigeria and Chad. Cameroon Health Minister Mama Fouda called on people in the region to be careful and report suspected cases immediately. "Minimum hygiene and sanitation practices should be respected. Disinfect drinking water sources, boil all drinking water, wash hands before eating, use latrines and stop defecating in the public", he said in a statement.