Cholera outbreak kills 356 in Cameroon

The ministry sounded alarm bells on Tuesday, warning that the disease might have spread to the capital Yaounde after one case was detected in a passenger train.

Cholera has caused the highest death toll in 20 years in the Central African country.

Each rainy season leads to cholera outbreaks in Cameroon's northern part, where residents lack clean drinking water and sanitary facilities.

The situation is coupled with the border with Nigeria, which is also prone to the disease.

The case detected in a train to Yaounde marked the latest development, with Health Minister Andre Mama Fouda issuing an official warning in the capital.

A health corridor was set up at the Yaounde train station for disinfection and prophylactic treatments to all passengers on board.

According to health officials, the patient was disembarked before the train arrived in Yaounde.

A budget of More than 3.2 million FCFA (64 million U.S. dollars) has been drawn up for the fight against the disease.

The cholera outbreak in Cameroon is part of the endemic looming large in the Lake Chad Basin, where the World Health Organization (WHO) says it has recorded thousands of cases in other countries including Nigeria, Chad and Niger.

Nigeria has called for a crucial meeting with its neighbors next month over the cholera epidemic, which has affected more than 6,000 people and killed at least 350 people in Africa's most populous country.

Nigerian officials propose the meeting be held on Oct. 17-18 in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, inviting Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin to find a common strategy. kazinform cites Xinua. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version.