Cameroon Launches Free Yellow Fever Vaccination Campaign in Douala to Curb Outbreak

The Ministry of Public Health is launching a free vaccination campaign against yellow fever from July 24 to 30 in the 9 health districts of the city of Douala. The vaccination is for people aged from 9 months to 60 years, except for pregnant women and people allergic to the substance.

This campaign will only take place in the city of Douala. According to the Permanent Secretary of the Expanded Program on Immunization, Dr. Tchokfe Shalom Ndoula, who coordinated the briefing in Douala, the objective of this campaign is to stop the circulation of yellow fever, which is currently ongoing in Douala. Five positive cases have been recorded throughout the country, with two in Douala and one death.

Yellow fever is an epidemic-prone disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes and can be prevented by vaccination. The disease is difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages, and in its more severe form, it can be mistaken for malaria. The incubation period for yellow fever is three to six days. The infection remains asymptomatic in many people. It usually manifests with fever, myalgia, headaches, loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting.

Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure to avoid yellow fever. The yellow fever vaccine is safe and inexpensive; a single dose provides lifelong protection against the disease, and a booster dose of the vaccine is not necessary.

During the media briefing organized in Douala at the Regional Health Delegation for the Littoral, Dr. Tchokfe Shalom Ndoula informed journalists that yellow fever spreads very quickly in urban areas and is transmitted by mosquitoes that bite during the day. To prevent further propagation, which can call for international concern given the city's open nature, the Ministry of Public Health has organized the campaign in the 9 health districts of Douala. Awareness activities will begin on July 20 in the neighborhoods to prepare the populations for the vaccine and the vaccination points. The goal of this campaign, he declared, is to cover 90% of the population.