CBC Doctors Deny Presence of Coronavirus in Douala

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Yaounde

Authorities of the Cameroon Baptist Convention, CBC have debunked social media rumours indicating that a case of patient with the deadly Coronavirus has been identified in their establishment in Douala. The clarification was recently made in a disclaimer issued Monday 17 February 2020 by Prof. Pius Tih Pius Muffih, CBC Director of Health Services. 

                The health establishment stated that the two patients who unfortunately died on Saturday at the Mboppi Baptist Hospital in Douala had a history of diarrhea and vomiting, rubbishing rumours of a coronavirus outbreak adding, that they are not selling preventive medicine for coronavirus.

                “The information circulating in the social media that Mboppi Baptist Hospital is dispensing medicines for the prevention of coronavirus is false and should not be respected. Please do not rush to Mboppi Baptist Hospital or to anybody to buy preventive medicines for coronavirus. The information is not true and there is no suspicion of coronavirus linked to the cases that came to Mboppi Baptist hospital, Douala last weekend,” said Muffih.

                “About 12.30 a.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2020, the Mboppi Baptist Hospital admitted three patients with history of diarrhea and vomiting. Later, that same morning two of them aged 38 and 40 years old (a male and female) went into Hyvolemic shock and died while the doctors were about to refer them to the New Bell District Hospital,” partly read the disclaimer, adding, that one of the patient was finally referred to the district hospital for proper management.

                It further explained that the DMO was alerted all necessary precautions taken and appropriate preventive care as well as disinfection given to the caregivers who were with the patients. It added that a stool sample was collected by the district team from the corpses to be analysed in Yaoundé for confirmation or ruling out of Cholera. It noted that DMO has taken his responsibilities and only the Minister of Public Health will inform the public whether these were cases of Cholera or not.

                Dr. Manaouda Malachie, Public Health Minister last month announced measures to strengthen epidemiological surveillance at air and maritime ports of entry to prevent possible spread of the virus into the country.