Preventing Ebola Virus Outbreak: Prime Minister Instructs Increased Vigilance

W ith the recording of an Ebola virus case in neighbouring Nigeria, authorities have already taken measures to prevent its out­ break in Cameroon. It is within this perspective that the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute, yesterday October 21, 2026 chaired an interministerial meeting bringing together stakeholders in the health and security, at the end of which he instructed increased vigi­ lance at entry points. That means, airports, seaports and border locali­ ties will have extra health and secu­ rity checks to ensure the virus is not imported into the country. Measures envisaged, which have been validated by the Prime Minister, were presented to the press after the meeting by the Minister of Public Health, Manaouda Malachie. Accor­ ding to him, government is investing in preventing the outbreak of the vi­ rus, which he explained, will be eco­ nomically suitable than containing the spread of the virus should it eventually get into the country, which is not the wish of government. “When this epidemic, which is of in­ ternational concern, was declared in May 2026, the Ministry of Public Health, including other administra­ tions, gathered at the emergency operations coordination center to start preparing against a potential importation into our country. When the case in Nigeria was announced, we had an internal meeting that same morning and we put together a draft programme,” the Minister ex­ plained. In fact, the Minister, along­ side other health and security per­ sonnel will today hold a meeting of the Strategic Committee for Public Health Emergency Management. On Friday, officials will to that effect be sent to the Yaounde-Nsimalen Inter­ national Airport to assess the equip­ ment that has been put in place and hold a briefing with all the teams there. The Douala International Air­ port is the next destination on Mon­ day and then the Kribi Autonomous Port. Wednesday’s programme envi­ sages a multidisciplinary meeting with tec...