Cameroon restricts Eq Guinea border activity over fever deaths

Cameroonian authorities stated the border motion restrictions have been imposed in view of ‘the excessive threat of importation’ of the unidentified sickness.

Indicators are seen on the border with Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in Kye-Ossi, Cameroon Could 23, 2015 [Sylvain Andzongo/Reuters]

Cameroon has restricted motion alongside its border with Equatorial Guinea following “a number of unexplained deaths” from an unknown sickness that causes hemorrhagic fever, Minister of Public Well being Malachie Manaouda stated on Friday.

The restrictions have been imposed in view of “the excessive threat of importation of this illness and with the intention to detect and reply to any circumstances at an early stage”, he stated in an announcement.

Investigations are below method and epidemiological surveillance has been strengthened with the help of specialists from the World Well being Group (WHO) and the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

“On the present stage … there isn't a cause to be nervous,” Malachie stated.

Equatorial Guinea stated in an announcement on Wednesday that it had registered an “uncommon epidemiological state of affairs” over the previous weeks in its Nsok Nsomo district, Kie-Ntem province, that prompted 9 deaths in two adjoining communities over a brief house of time.

A disaster fee arrange by the well being ministry reported a tenth loss of life on Thursday.

The signs noticed have been fever, weak point, vomiting blood and diarrhoea. A crew was despatched to isolate contact circumstances and take samples that have been despatched to a regional WHO lab for testing. A lady and her two kids have been taken to hospital, the place they recovered after receiving gentle remedy, the assertion added.

A WHO spokesperson stated the company was supporting the testing of samples to establish what has prompted the deaths and will get outcomes throughout the coming days.

Cameroon stated roughly 20 deaths had been recorded on Wednesday in villages in Equatorial Guinea’s Kie-Ntem province, which borders Cameroon’s Olamze district.

The signs of the “non-identified sickness” have been nostril bleeds, fever, joint ache and different illnesses that prompted loss of life inside a couple of hours, the top of well being for the district, Ngu Fankam Roland, stated in an announcement.

He instructed Reuters on Friday that no circumstances had been detected or suspected in Cameroon to date.