Cholera Epidemic out Break in douala

Panic in Douala following a rumor about a cholera epidemic

The rumor has been repeated on social networks

The information was diverted and sowed panic on social networks. 

From 7 to 14 September 2017, the Ministry of Public Health organized a full-scale simulation of a cholera epidemic in the Littoral region. This exercise is part of the capacity building of health workers and other stakeholders in the health preservation chain in the face of the various threats to public health in Cameroon. 

A document from this exercise, however, leaked on social networks on September 14, causing panic after several Internet users said it was the official announcement of a cholera epidemic in the city of Douala. 

The document in question is a press release in which the "Minister of Public Health informs the general public that a cholera epidemic was declared on 7 September 2017 in the health districts of New Bell and Deido, region of the Littoral ". The document, which does not bear any signature, adds that "the Minister of Public Health is asking all media for wide-ranging public information on preventive measures".

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The false information was then taken up by dozens of Internet users. Difficult to know how the document ended up on the web, but the news very quickly alerted the authorities in charge of health. 

An official of the National Center for Public Health Emergency Operations (Cnous), joined by the editorial staff of JournalduCameroun.com, regrets this drift and wishes to reassure all Douala populations that "no cholera epidemic has been reported in the city of Douala and that there is no reported concern ". However, he said that populations must remain vigilant, respecting the minimum hygiene precautions to prevent this disease. 

According to Minsanté, this simulation has enabled health personnel to become involved, inter alia, in the activation of the National Center for Public Health Emergency Operations at the intermediate level; the development of incident management plans; the implementation of the communication and awareness plan; the provision of medicines and medical consumables with the support of development partners, or the free handling of cases in health facilities. 

The Minister, André Mama Fouda, will declare the end of the exercise on Thursday, September 14, 2017, and the restitution of this life-size simulation of the management of a Cholera epidemic in the city of Douala will take place on Friday, September 15, 2017 at Hilton hotel in Yaounde.