Even though measles had almost been eradicated in the last two decades in Cameroon, the disease has resurfaced in some health districts in the country in the past few years. An outbreak of measles occurred in northern Cameroon in early 2008 and intensified with the arrival of Chadian refugees in the area in February 2008. A total of ten health districts were then affected by the disease. The localities that were most hit were Dougoï, 170 cases, Founangué, 101 cases, Djarengol Kodeck, 32 and Domayo II, 20 cases. Since then, 355 cases of measles have been recorded in the region, including 64 cases in January 2009.
The most recent outbreak of measles was in November 2011. Since then, the disease has been noticed in many health districts of the country with the Littoral and Centre Regions having the highest number of cases. In the Centre Region alone, over ten health districts have been declared epidemic zones. In most hospitals in Yaounde, cases of measles in children are received daily. The Director of the Chantal Biya Mother and Child Foundation (FCB), Professor Paul Koki Ndombo said the hospital receives at least one or two cases a day. A source at the Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI), said the epidemic has resurfaced since 2011 and is spreading all over the country. The source said plans are underway for a national immunization campaign in the days ahead to eradicate the disease.
Measles, also called rubeola, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by a virus. It causes skin rash and flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, and running nose. A total of 20 million cases occur worldwide every year. Since measles is caused by a virus, there is no specific medical treatment; reason why the virus is allowed to run its course.
Affected children should be given a lot of fluid and allowed to rest to keep the infection from spreading. Measles is highly contagious with chances that 90 per cent of children who have not been vaccinated will get it if they live in the same home as an infected person. It is spread when someone comes in direct contact with infected droplets or when someone with measles sneezes or coughs and spreads virus droplets through the air.
