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Species of the genus Echis, particularly those of the 'ocellatus' group, are responsible for the majority of snakebite envenomations and deaths in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. In a clinical study conducted in Cameroon, we treated a series of patients bitten by formally identified E. romani. The clinical outcomes are described and discussed. Specimens brought in by the victim were identified by a herpetologist. Clinical description and therapeutic management followed a standardized protocol applied by trained physicians. We included 92 patients, 95% of whom (n = 87) were envenomated. More than one third of the bites occurred during agricultural work, and one quarter in the victim's home. The bite site was the foot in 48 victims (52%) and the hand in 40 others (43%), mostly children and teenagers. Cytotoxic syndrome was observed in 84 of the 87 envenomated patients (97%). Hemostasis disorders were observed in 78 patients (90%), 38 of whom (44%) experienced bleeding during hospitalization. In 5 of the latter (13%), the bleeding recurred, whereas it had stopped after antivenom administration. A further 7 patients, who were not bleeding on arrival, experienced late bleeding despite antivenom administration. Four patients (4.3%), including one pregnant woman, died. All were bleeding on arrival. Finally, 2 patients (2.2%) had permanent sequelae of moderate severity. This study confirms the frequency and severity of hemorrhagic complications in E. romani envenomation. Lethality remains high despite antivenom treatment. Cytotoxic syndromes, present in 95% of victims, rarely progress to extensive necrosis.

Current malaria diagnostics are invasive, lack sensitivity, and rapid tests are plagued by deletions in target antigens. Here we introduce the Cytophone, an innovative photoacoustic flow cytometer platform with high-pulse-rate lasers and a focused ultrasound transducer array to noninvasively detect and identify malaria-infected red blood cells (iRBCs) using specific wave shapes, widths, and time delays generated from the absorbance of laser energy by hemozoin, a universal biomarker of malaria infection. In a population of Cameroonian adults with uncomplicated malaria, we assess our device for safety in a cross-sectional cohort ( n  = 10) and conduct a performance assessment in a longitudinal cohort ( n  = 20) followed for 30 ± 7 days after clearance of parasitemia. Longitudinal cytophone measurements are compared to point-of-care and molecular assays ( n  = 94). Cytophone is safe with 90% sensitivity, 69% specificity, and a receiver-operator-curve-area-under-the-curve (ROC-AUC) of 0.84, as compared to microscopy. ROC-AUCs of Cytophone, microscopy, and RDT compared to quantitative PCR are not statistically different from one another. The ability to noninvasively detect iRBCs in the bloodstream is a major advancement which offers the potential to rapidly identify both the large asymptomatic reservoir of infection, as well as diagnose symptomatic cases without the need for a blood sample. Improved diagnostics for malaria are desired. Here the authors present first-in-human data for a non-invasive device based on detection of hemozoin in malaria-infected red blood cells, and show that it is safe with comparable performance to current point-of-care diagnostics without the need for a blood sample.

Snakebites is a serious public health issue but remains a neglected tropical disease. Data on antivenom effectiveness are urgently needed in Africa. We assessed effectiveness of Inoserp PAN-AFRICA (IPA), the recommended antivenom available in Cameroon. We enrolled 447 patients presenting with snakebite in 14 health facilities across Cameroon. At presentation, cytotoxicity, coagulation troubles and neurotoxicity were graded. We administered two to four vials of antivenom to patients based on hemotoxic or neurotoxic signs. We renewed antivenom administration to patients with persistence of bleedings or neurotoxicity 2 hours after each injection. We defined early improvement as a reduction of the grade of envenomation symptoms 2 hours after first injection. Medium-term effectiveness was investigated looking at disappearance of symptoms during hospitalization. After hospital discharge, a home visit was planned to assess long-term outcomes. Between October 2019 and May 2021, we enrolled 447 (93.7%), including 72% from the savannah regions. The median [IQR] age was 25 [14-40]. Envenomation was diagnosed in 369 (82.6%) participants. The antivenom was administered to 356 patients (96.5%) of whom 256 (71.9%) received one administration. Among these patients, cytotoxic symptoms were observed in 336 (94.4%) participants, coagulation disorders in 234 (65.7%) participants and neurotoxicity in 23 (6.5%) participants. Two hours after the first administration of antivenom, we observed a decrease in coagulation disorders or neurotoxicity in 75.2% and 39.1% of patients, respectively. Complete cessation of bleedings and neurotoxicity occurred in 96% and 93% of patients within 24 hours, respectively. Sequelae have been observed in 9 (3%) patients at the home visit 15 days after hospital admission and 11 (3%) died including one before antivenom injection. We confirmed good effectiveness of the IPA and highlighted the rapid improvement in bleeding or neurotoxicity after the first administration. Sequential administrations of low doses of antivenom, rigorously assessed at short intervals for an eventual renewal, can preserve patient safety and save antivenom. NCT03326492.

Snakebite envenomation (SBE) is a public health issue in sub-Saharan countries. Antivenom is the only etiological treatment. Excellent tolerance is essential in managing SBE successfully. This study aimed to evaluate tolerance of InoserpTM PAN-AFRICA (IPA). It was conducted on fourteen sites across Cameroon. IPA was administered intravenously and repeated at the same dose every two hours if needed. Early and late tolerance was assessed by the onset of clinical signs within two hours and at a visit two weeks or more after the first IPA administration, respectively. Over 20 months, 447 patients presenting with a snakebite were included. One dose of IPA was administered to 361 patients and repeated at least once in 106 patients. No significant difference was shown between the proportion of adverse events in patients who received IPA (266/361, 73.7%) and those who did not (69/85, 81.2%) (p = 0.95). Adverse reactions, probably attributable to IPA, were identified in four (1.1%) patients, including one severe (angioedema) and three mild. All these reactions resolved favorably. None of the serious adverse events observed in twelve patients were attributed to IPA. No signs of late intolerance were observed in 302 patients. Tolerance appears to be satisfactory. The availability of effective and well-tolerated antivenoms would reduce the duration of treatment and prevent most disabilities and/or deaths.

Snakes responsible for bites are rarely identified, resulting in a loss of information about snakebites from venomous species whose venom effects are poorly understood. A prospective clinical study including patients bitten by a snake was conducted in Cameroon between 2019 and 2021 to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a marketed polyvalent antivenom. Clinical presentation during the first 3 days of hospitalization was recorded following a standardized protocol. This ancillary study aimed to assess the frequency of bites by the different species encountered in Cameroon and to describe the symptoms of bites by formally identified species. Of the 447 patients included in the study, 159 (35.6%) brought the snake that caused the bite that was identified by a specialist. Out of these, 8 specimens could not be identified due to poor condition, 19 were non-venomous species, and 95 belonged to 'Echis romani' - formerly 'E. ocellatus' - species. The remaining 37 specimens included 2 'Atheris squamigera', 12 'Atractaspis spp'., 2 'Bitis arietans', 11 'Causus maculatus', 1 'Dendroaspis jamesoni', 1 'Naja haje', 1 'N. katiensis', 5 'N. melanoleuca' complex, and 2 'N. nigricollis'. Symptoms, severity of envenomation, and post-treatment course are described. Symptoms and severity of bites are consistent with cases described in the literature, but some specific features are highlighted.

Background In 2017, Field access was considerably limited in the Far North region of Cameroon due to the conflict. Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in collaboration with Ministry of health needed to estimate the health situation of the populations living in two of the most affected departments of the region: Logone-et-Chari and Mayo-Sava. Methods Access to health care and mortality rates were estimated through cell phone interviews, in 30 villages (clusters) in each department. Local Community Health Workers (CHWs) previously collected all household phone numbers in the selected villages and nineteen were randomly selected from each of them. In order to compare telephone interviews to face-to-face interviews for estimating health care access, and mortality rates, both methods were conducted in parallel in the town of Mora in the mayo Sava department. Access to food was assessed through push messages sent by the three main mobile network operators in Cameroon. Additionally, all identified legal health care facilities in the area were interviewed by phone to estimate attendance and services offered before the conflict and at the date of the survey. Results Of a total of 3423 households called 43% were reached. Over 600,000 push messages sent and only 2255 were returned. We called 43 health facilities and reached 34 of them. In The town of Mora, telephone interviews showed a Crude Mortality Rate (CMR) at 0.30 (CI 95%: 0.16–0.43) death per 10,000-person per day and home visits showed a CMR at 0.16 (0.05–0.27), most other indicators showed comparable results except household composition (more Internally Displaced Persons by telephone). Phone interviews showed a CMR at 0.63 (0.29–0.97) death per 10,000-person per day in Logone-et-Chari, and 0.30 (0.07–0.50) per 10,000-person per day in Mayo-Sava. Among 86 deaths, 13 were attributed to violence (15%), with terrorist attacks being explicitly mentioned for seven deaths. Among 29 health centres, 5 reported being attacked and vandalized; 3 remained temporally closed; Only 4 reported not being affected. Conclusion Telephone interviews are feasible in areas with limited access, although special attention should be paid to the initial collection of phone numbers. The use of text messages to collect data was not satisfactory is not recommended for this purpose. Mortality in Logone-et-Chari and Mayo-Sava was under critical humanitarian thresholds although a considerable number of deaths were directly related to the conflict.

Cholera has re-emerged as a major global public health emergency, with reported cases and deaths tripling between 2022 and 2025 especially in Africa, due to climate shocks, population displacement, fragile water and sanitation systems, and delays in laboratory confirmation. Early detection is critical to interrupt transmission and reduce mortality, underscoring the need for decentralised point-of-care diagnostics. We conducted a prospective field evaluation of three cholera rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs): SD Bioline Cholera Ag O1/O139, Crystal VC O1, and Cholkit, during active cholera outbreaks in Cameroon. Tests were performed on fresh stool samples by laboratory technicians and by non-laboratory health workers at primary health-care facilities. Diagnostic performance was assessed using PCR as the reference standard. In a subset of samples, RDTs were also performed after alkaline peptone water (APW) enrichment to assess its effect on diagnostic accuracy. Inter-operator agreement and ease of use were evaluated. Among 492 suspected cholera cases enrolled, 377 samples had PCR results available for analysis. When performed at the point of care, RDT sensitivity ranged from 88% to 95%, comparable to laboratory-based testing, while specificity ranged from 72% to 85%. APW enrichment was associated with a consistent reduction in sensitivity across all three RDTs and reduced specificity for SD Bioline. Inter-operator agreement was high (Cohen's κ 0·81-0·89). More than 80% of end users reported that RDTs were easy to use under outbreak conditions. Cholera RDTs demonstrated high sensitivity, strong inter-operator reliability, and operational feasibility when deployed directly on fresh stool samples by non-laboratory staff. Integrating RDTs into decentralised surveillance systems, without APW enrichment, can accelerate outbreak detection and support timely response in high-burden, resource-limited settings.

IntroductionCholera outbreaks in fragile settings are prone to rapid expansion. Case-area targeted interventions (CATIs) have been proposed as a rapid and efficient response strategy to halt or substantially reduce the size of small outbreaks. CATI aims to deliver synergistic interventions (eg, water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, vaccination, and antibiotic chemoprophylaxis) to households in a 100—250 m ‘ring’ around primary outbreak cases.Methods and analysisWe report on a protocol for a prospective observational study of the effectiveness of CATI. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) plans to implement CATI in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Cameroon, Niger and Zimbabwe. This study will run in parallel to each implementation. The primary outcome is the cumulative incidence of cholera in each CATI ring. CATI will be triggered immediately on notification of a case in a new area. As with most real-world interventions, there will be delays to response as the strategy is rolled out. We will compare the cumulative incidence among rings as a function of response delay, as a proxy for performance. Cross-sectional household surveys will measure population-based coverage. Cohort studies will measure effects on reducing incidence among household contacts and changes in antimicrobial resistance.Ethics and disseminationThe ethics review boards of MSF and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have approved a generic protocol. The DRC and Niger-specific versions have been approved by the respective national ethics review boards. Approvals are in process for Cameroon and Zimbabwe. The study findings will be disseminated to the networks of national cholera control actors and the Global Task Force for Cholera Control using meetings and policy briefs, to the scientific community using journal articles, and to communities via community meetings.

Background Depression is one of the most common neuropsychiatric complications of HIV disease, and in turn it is associated with worse HIV-related outcomes. Data on depression among HIV-infected patients in Cameroon are scarce. In this study, we report the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Methods Interviews were conducted with 100 newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients at three referral hospitals of Yaoundé. Depression was assessed using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). A positive depression screen was defined as PHQ-9 score greater than 9. Results The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 63% (95% CI: 53.2 to 71.8), the majority having symptoms corresponding to moderate depression. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that probable depressed patients were more likely than those who were not depressed to have had experience of alcohol abuse (OR: 19.03, 95% CI 3.11-375.85; p = 0.0083), and a 100 CD4 cells/mm3 fewer was associated with a 2.9 times increase of the odds of probable depression (95% CI 1.88-4.84; p < 0.0001). Conclusions Our findings indicate a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients in our setting, and their association with alcohol abuse and severe immunosuppression. This study also highlights the necessity to integrate mental health interventions into routine HIV clinical care in Cameroon.