Cholera epidemic in Cameroon: the resounding need for multi-sectoral national and trans-border collaboration

Introduction As of January 30, 2022, Cameroon has recorded 1,102 cholera cases across five Regions. The outbreak has already claimed the lives of 32 persons. These figures were reported by the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health in early February 2022. Cholera is a highly contagious acute diarrhoeal infection, which is caused by ingestion of water or food contaminated with the bacterium, Vibrio cholerae. The disease still poses a significant public health threat globally. Each year, about 1.3 to 4.0 million cases are reported annually with 21,000 to 143,000 deaths. Cholera is endemic in Cameroon. Since 2018, cholera outbreaks have been reported annually in various regions of the country including the currently affected regions (South West, Centre, and Littoral). Early in 2021, sporadic cases were reported and an outbreak was declared on October 31, 2021 by the Ministry of Health. Between October 25 and December 10, 2021, the South West, Littoral, and Centre Regions...