Doctor refutes Ebola rumours in Cameroon

Dr. Victor Njie Mbome, South West Regional Delegate of Public Health has dispelled rumours that cases of the deadly Ebola Virus have been discovered in Mamfe and Buea.

It is also alleged that a case of the Ebola fever has been confirmed in Doaula. While the rumours circulated through text messages go on, Health officials have called for caution and increase surveillance.

“Presently, we don’t have any case of Ebola in the South West Region.

it is important to note that. There is a lot of scare and worry. This is very understandable because people keep on moving,” Mbome said.

According to the Public Health Delegate, “we must all be conscious of the fact that we are dealing with a very ‘sensitive and challenging disease.”

“Cameroon shares a very long boundary with Nigeria. The virus has moved from Serra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and we now have cases reported and confirmed in Nigeria. We must be on alert. It means that Cameroon is in the pre-epidemic phase. We as health workers have to increase surveillance and disease control.

The population must be enlightened and given the right information. We have to reinforce attitudes that can help us prevent the disease,” he said.

Reacting to increased rumour of Ebola cases in parts of Mamfe and Buea, the doctor said “to say we have a case means that we must have it confirmed. We don’t have Ebola in the South West.”

He gave assurances that surveillance has been increased at all entry points into the region beginning from Idenau, Limbe, Bota, Tiko, Mamfe, Ekok, EkondoTiti and other frontier localities along the border with Nigeria.

He said instructions have been given to the district medical officers in the border localities to be on alert.

“We have informed all the district medical officers and we are working with the administration to make sure that people coming into the country are followed up. You must show proof that you have been vaccinated against preventable diseases,” he added.

In terms of equipment, he said “the presence of the virus in Nigeria has put us in a very advantage position and we are taking measures before it gets here.

Since we are in the pre-epidemic phase, we must get the necessary equipment. Centres have been identified in each region to take care of cases if they come up.”

He added that “every country in this sub-region must take measures in anticipation of any eventuality. We have a broad view of what Ebola is all about. Every health worker is informed. This is one of the main things that will be examined at the regional coordination meeting for health officials this week. Training for health workers is in view.”

Medics say Ebola is very contagious; it spreads rapidly through contact with body fluids, secretions and sweat from infected persons.

At the beginning, they say, one may think it is malaria, but when the patient starts vomiting blood and passing out blood through the nostrils and ears and bloody diarrhoea, such a person must be isolated and taken to hospital.

Medics have advised that dead animals should be reported and the eating of bush meat and other animals that stray into the wild should be avoided.

It is also falsely said in some quarters that the eating of bitter-kola with salt can help prevent individuals from the virus. This has been dismissed as baseless information by medics who say there are persons in Nigeria who have been hospitalised for health difficulties after eating large quantities of bitter-kola and salt.