Attachments
Approximate date of impact*
Marburg disease outbreak that were ongoing in Equatorial Guinea did not expand to Cameroon. This DREF remained in a preparedness scenario.
Provide any updates in the situation since the field report and explain what is expected to happen.
Since the declaration of the Marburg outbreak in Equatorial Guinea, it has been anticipated that cases may emerge in Cameroon due to the porosity of the borders. The areas of particular concern for identifying suspected cases were the districts of Ambam, Kye-Ossi, and Olamze in the South Region of Cameroon. The Health authorities of Equatorial Guinea have officially declared the end of the Marburg outbreak.
As of the end of the operation 234 alerts were received, 47 suspected cases identified, 16 sampled and no positive cases no confirmed cases have been reported by the surveillance team of the Health authorities.
Scope and Scale
Marburg virus disease (MVD), previously known as Marburg virus hemorrhagic fever, is a severe and often deadly illness in humans, with a fatality rate ranging from 50% to 88%. Currently, there are no approved treatments or vaccines available to counteract the virus.
The entry point into Cameroon from the Kie-Ntem region is primarily by road, spanning the 189-kilometer border with the southern region. This border includes districts such as Kyé-Ossi, Ambam, and Olamze, collectively hosting a population of over 300,000 individuals. Any alerts beyond this area was likely be associated with people moving in and out of the southern region for various reasons, including family visits and commercial activities.
From the declaration of the epidemic in Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon recorded a total of 234 alerts from February 9th to June 15th, with three of these alerts related to reported deaths. All of these alerts have been thoroughly investigated, and 47 of them (approximately 20.08%) have been validated. Additionally, 16 cases were sampled for confirmation at the laboratory. This information is sourced from the Ministry of Health. These alerts were distributed across six regions and were subject to thorough investigation.