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Marburg Virus: Cameroon on the Offensive

The killer Marburg disease has not left the medical corps in Cameroon indifferent. The country has restricted movement along the border with Equatorial Guinea after nine people in the neighboring state died of the Marburg virus, a hemorrhagic fever that kills within hours.

During a press conference Tuesday, Dr. Manaouda Malachi, minister of Public Health said epidemiological surveillance has been strengthened although no case of death has been reported in Cameroon.

Two suspected cases were reported in the South Region, but after an observation of the cases, the Public Health boss dismissed fears indicating that the samples taken pointed to malaria and not the dreaded virus.

The minister of public health has called on civilians to avoid contact with animals and people who have travelled to Equatorial Guinea and make sure people with fever, fatigue, and blood-stained vomit and diarrhea are isolated.

However, some Cameroonians have expressed concerns about the preventive measures as the frequent movement of people across the border will make stopping the virus a challenge. This as Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea in 2020 restricted movement along their border to protect their populations from COVID-19, but civilians on both sides did not respect the order.

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About Gladys Asu

Gladys Asu Ngouana, is an award winning Cameroonian broadcast journalist with over five years of experience as a reporter and anchor for the Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV). Based in Yaounde, she covers critical topics like health, community affairs, and sustainable development. Her work has taken her to challenging regions, including areas affected by sociopolitical unrest and underserved communities. In addition to her role at CRTV, Gladys runs this personal blog, anghealthtalkz.com, not just to inform and educate but to also inspire good health and hope in her community. She holds a BSc in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea and is a pioneer fellow of the CPHIA Media Fellowship organized by Africa CDC.

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