Challenges in the management of Monkeypox in a developing country: case of Cameroon

Abstract

International interest has been focused on Monkeypox since July 2022, due to multiples cases reported outside Africa. We report a case that occurred in Cameroon during this period. A 40-year-old Patient, heterosexual, living in Tombel in the southwest of Cameroon, HIV positive, consulted on 02/10/2022 for umbilicated, confluent vesiculo-pustular lesions, confluent on the face and scalp with palmo-plantar involvement, without lymphadenopathy, febrile, and evolving for 2 weeks. The diagnosis of Monkeypox was made based on a positive PCR test from on a skin sample revealing the Monkeypox clade 2 virus. Under treatment, the evolution was favourable after 17 days. We report the first confirmed case of Monkeypox in the city of Douala. The major challenge for the government would be to develop diagnostic and response strategies, to contain and neutralize the disease.