Conference Abstract | Volume 8, AbstractELIC2025425 (Poster 058) | Published: 01 Aug 2025
Samantha Awoumou1,&, Vanessa Nzalli1, Ghislaine Bineli2, Flore Balana2, Evaristus Ncham2, Olivier Tatsilong3, Franck Obam4, Basile Kamgang5, Armelle Ngomba3, Linda Esso3
1Ministry of Health/ Field Epidemiology Training Program, Yaounde, Cameroon, 2Ministry of Health/ Field Epidemiology Training Program/ Department of disease control, Epidemics and Pandemics, Yaounde, Cameroon, 3Department of Disease Control, Epidemics and Pandemics/ Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon, 4Centre Pasteur du Cameroun/ Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon, 5Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, Yaounde, Cameroon
&Corresponding author: Samantha Awoumou, Ministry of Health/Field Epidemiology Training Program, Yaounde, Cameroon, Email: samanthaawoumou97@gmail.com
Received: 30 May 2025, Accepted: 09 Jun 2025, Published: 01 Aug 2025
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Dengue, outbreak, surveillance, Cameroon
©Samantha Awoumou et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Samantha Awoumou et al., Dengue outbreak investigation in Mfandena I health area, Yaounde, Cameroon, January 2025: Uncovering hidden cases and surveillance gaps. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(ConfProc5):00202. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO5-00202
In December 2024, a sudden increase of dengue cases was reported in Mfandena I health area, Yaounde, Cameroon. Two confirmed cases that escaped routine surveillance were notified with limited available data. A multidisciplinary team was deployed to research more cases, detect vectors and breeding sites and evaluate the surveillance system.
We conducted a descriptive study from January 7-12, 2025 in Mfandena I. Cases were identified through healthcare records and community screening. Suspected cases were people living in Mfandena I with fever >38.5°C lasting 2-7 days and at least two of the following symptoms: headache, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, skin rash, hemorrhagic manifestations, leucopenia since November 2024. IgM ELISA and NS1 tests were performed on consenting suspected cases. Vector search was conducted within a 1.5 km radius around case residences. We assessed surveillance system in 22 local hospitals.
We identified 44 suspected cases and tested 12 samples, all negative. The two confirmed cases were 54 and 59 years old male expatriates, residing in Cameroon and France, respectively. Both had fever and rash-like red spots, and consulted the same hospitals without being notified. We identified some larval breeding sites. Among 502 mosquitoes collected, 25.1% (126/502) were Aedes albopictus, 3.4% (17/502) Aedes aegypti, and 71.5% (359/502) other species. The surveillance system was neither simple, acceptable nor stable. Only 16% (4/25) of staff knew the case definition, no site had notification forms and no cases had ever been reported.
This investigation highlighted risk of dengue spread in Mfandena I and danger of an insidious evolution of the disease due to underreporting and limited awareness. Strengthening surveillance system, training health workers and educating communities on vector control can limit the spread of the disease.
Menu