WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Global Task Force on Cholera Control
CHOLERA COUNTRY PROFILE: CAMEROON
Last update: 17 November 2009
General Country Information:
The Republic of Cameroon is located in centralwestern Africa, and borders the Central African
Republic, Chad, the Republic of the Congo,
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria with a
coast along the Atlantic Ocean. The country is
divided in 10 semi-autonomous regions and 58
divisions. Yaoundé is the capital, but the largest
city is Douala.
Cameroon became a German colony in 1884 and
was divided between France and Britain at the
end of World War I. It gained its independence
from France in 1960 and shortly after the southern
part of British Cameroon merged with the rest of
the country to become the United Republic of
Cameroon.
Cameroon enjoys relatively high political and social stability when compared to other African countries allowing for the
development of agriculture, roads, railways and large petroleum and timber industries. Even though many Cameroonians live
in poverty as subsistence farmers, the country has one of the highest school attendance rates in Africa. Traditional healers
remain a popular alternative to western medicine.
Cameroon is ranking 153 out of 183 in the Human Development Index.
Cholera Background History:
Cameroon first reported cholera cases in 1970 and 1971 when the current pandemic hit the African continent. More than
2000 cases were reported in 1970 with a high case fatality rate of 15%.
Very few cases were reported between 1972 and 1984. In 1985, more than 1000 cases were notified with a CFR close to
9%. In 1991, Cameroon reported more than 4000 cases with a CFR of 12%, and in 1996 the country reported 5786 cases
with a CFR of 8.3%.
9000
CAMEROON - WHO NOTIFIED CASES AND DEATHS
1971-2009*
As of 9 November 2009
70
Cases
Deaths
8000
60
CFR
50
6000
40
5000
CFR%
NB OF CASES AND DEATHS
7000
4000
30
3000
20
2000
10
1000
0
0
19
7
19 1
7
19 2
7
19 3
7
19 4
75
19
7
19 6
7
19 7
7
19 8
7
19 9
8
19 0
81
19
8
19 2
8
19 3
84
19
85
19
8
19 6
8
19 7
88
19
89
19
9
19 0
9
19 1
9
19 2
9
19 3
94
19
9
19 5
9
19 6
9
19 7
9
19 8
99
20
0
20 0
0
20 1
02
20
03
20
0
20 4
0
20 5
0
20 6
0
20 7
0
20 8
09
The largest outbreak occurred in 2004, when 8000
cases were reported in Littoral and West regions.
The outbreak which started in Bepanda, an area
located in the north west of Douala, spread rapidly to
other areas (New Bell and Nylon), and soon reached
the entire town of Douala. The 6 health districts of
the department of Wouri were affected. The
outbreak was brought under control in Douala town
in March but started again at the end of May with the
onset of the rainy season. The second peak of the
outbreak was reached between the 6-13 June 2004
with 700 weekly cases. Seventy physicians from
Yaoundé were sent to Douala to support case
management in cholera treatment centers. It was
clearly established that the areas of Douala with
lower access to proper water and sanitation were
subject to the highest attack rates. (see graph)
YEAR
Cholera Outbreak in 2009:
Taux d'attaque et nombre de branchements
450
400
350
300
250
200
Taux d'attaque pour 100 000
hts
From the beginning of September and as of 9 November 2009,
Cameroon has notified 315 cases and 40 deaths in the Extrême
Nord region leading to a high case fatality rate of 13%. It is noted
that more than 60% of the deaths occur in the community. Most
cases are reportedly coming from neighbouring Nigeria. Nigeria
reported cholera cases since beginning of August in its border
states of Adamawa, Borno and Taraba.
150
100
50
0
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
Nb de branchements pour 100 000 hts
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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Global Task Force on Cholera Control
CHOLERA COUNTRY PROFILE: CAMEROON
Last update: 17 November 2009
REPARTITION DES CAS ET DECES PAR SEMAINES
Cas
Décès
EPIDEMIOLOGIQUES
80
54 58
70
60
43 38
30
50
30
26
40
19 15
30
9
4
9
20 2 2
3
3
3
4
3
10
0
0
S36 S37 S38 S39 S40 S41 S42 S43 S44 S45
WHO Support Actions:
•
2004:
The WHO Regional Office for Africa provided technical support with a team comprising an epidemiologist and an expert in
social mobilization.
Two water and sanitation engineers were sent by the French Government and joined the team. Their report emphasized
the fact that the cholera outbreak started and spread more rapidly in the areas with poor or inexistent waste management
and low access to proper sanitation and drinking water
Demographic and Socio-Economic Data: (Sources for Document: WHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP)
Geography
Environment
Demographics
Economy
Total surface
Capital
Regions
Official Language
Climate
Rainy season
Floods and droughts
Desertification
Natural resources
Population
Religions
Ethnic groups
Migrants
Industry
Farming
Health
Indicators
Communicable
Diseases
Risk Factors
for Cholera
Per capita total
expenditure on health
Life expectancy birth (yrs)
Child mortality (per 1000)
475'440km2 (coastline of 402km)
Yaoundé (population in Yaoundé: 1'430'000 in 2005)
10 regions: Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, North-West
(Nord-Ouest), Ouest, Sud, South-West (Sud-Ouest)
French and English
Tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Long dry season: from December to March, short rainy season: from March to
June, short dry season: August, long rainy season: from September to December
Desertification, deforestation
Petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
18,879,301 (annual population growth rate: 2.19%)
Christian 40%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%,
Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less
than 1%
81'000 refugees from Chad and Central African Republic
Petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light
consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair
Coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock;
timber
49US$ (2005)
Males: 50
Females: 52 (2006)
Males: 155
Females: 142 (2006)
3'241 (2004) doctors
Diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fever, schistosomiasis, meningococcal meningitis
HIV prevalence (2005): 4.9%
Population with access to improved water source
70 % (2006)
Population with access to proper sanitation facilities
51 % (2006)
The Cholera Task Force country profiles are not a formal publication of WHO and do not necessarily represent the decisions
or the stated policy of the Organization. The presentation of maps contained herein does not imply the expression of any
opinion whatsoever on the part of WHO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or areas or its authorities, or
concerning the delineation of its frontiers or boundaries.
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