Cameroon: No COVID-19 Cases Detected from Hajj Pilgrims
July 03, 2024
By Boris Esono Nwenfor
645 pilgrims from Cameroon took part in the 2024 Hajj in Mecca
BUEA, Cameroon — In a significant development, the Minister of Public Health Manaouda Malachie has reported that no COVID-19 cases have been detected among the pilgrims returning from this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The announcement comes as a relief to both the public and health officials who had called for the reintroduction of measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Ministry of Public Health confirmed that all returning pilgrims underwent rigorous health screenings at both points of entry and health facilities throughout the country. He said: "No COVID-19 cases were notified, as well as among the 645 pilgrims who returned from Hajj 2024 by the screening systems put in place."
Minister Manaouda Malachie has reminded health personnel to systematically test persons who arrive at health facilities with flu symptoms, respiratory distress or suspected respiratory infection while calling on the Border Health Post teams to strengthen systematic testing of suspected cases and voluntary screening of travellers upon arrival in Cameroon.
Cameroon was forced to go into overdrive after cases were detected from returning Hajj pilgrims in Senegal. Senegal said it has detected Covid-19 in dozens of pilgrims returning from their Hajj journey in Mecca. From tests conducted at Dakar's Blaise Diagne International Airport, 78 cases of Covid-19 were recorded. The country’s health ministry said the results are not surprising. It said returning pilgrims had been advised to wear masks and self-isolate.
The Ministry of Public Health continues to urge all citizens to remain vigilant and adhere to ongoing COVID-19 safety protocols, including mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and social distancing, to maintain the current low infection rates in the country. As Cameroon navigates the ongoing global pandemic, the successful monitoring of the Hajj pilgrims serves as a beacon of hope and an example of how careful planning and adherence to health guidelines can prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The first Covid-19 case was recorded in Cameroon in March 2020. According to the Ministry of Public Health, this pandemic has caused the death of 1,974 people out of a total of more than 120,000 infections in the country.
