The Minister of Public Health has called for increased staffing, the installation of a thermal camera, and absolute rigor to secure the nation’s borders.
The Ministry of Health provides the guidelines.
Following a critical visit to Yaoundé, the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, traveled to Douala on Monday, October 26, 2026, to personally inspect the preventive measures established to stop the Ebola virus from entering the country. Leading a high-level multidisciplinary team, the Minister toured the facilities at Douala International Airport, conducting a thorough inspection of key transit areas used by travelers and staff. This strategic field visit underscores the health authorities’ commitment to maintaining a state of maximum alert against cross-border epidemiological threats, in line with presidential directives regarding the protection of the population’s health.
Central to this assessment visit were in-depth technical discussions between the Minister and his staff, focusing on the precise definition of the traveler testing process and the strict segregation of passenger flows. In a context where rapid response to epidemic risks is the cornerstone of national health security, the priority is to identify—with surgical precision—the strategic locations for measuring vital signs, a fundamental and essential step in the early detection of suspected cases. Dr. Manaouda Malachie has instructed his teams to ensure seamless movement throughout the airport, eliminating any gaps or potential points of contamination within the facility. To strengthen this sanitary barrier, the action plan approved on-site includes the imminent installation of a high-tech thermal camera—designed to instantly detect suspicious thermal symptoms—as well as a substantial, targeted increase in qualified personnel to support the teams already on the ground. The Minister emphasized that contaminated objects are an insidious vector and mode of transmission for the Ebola virus, necessitating absolute and uncompromising vigilance at every stage of the passenger journey. Given these risks, the continuous training of staff and the optimization of disinfection protocols remain non-
negotiable imperatives for ensuring the integrity of Cameroon’s borders.
Driven by a clear ambition—encapsulated in the powerful phrase « This virus must not travel »—Dr. Manaouda Malachie challenged his staff to embrace their historic responsibilities by posing direct, foundational questions: How can national response capabilities be guaranteed and optimized in real time should a case slip through the net? And how can all institutional, technical, and community stakeholders be mobilized to respond with formidable efficiency, should the need arise? This call for operational excellence demands perfect synergy among all professional groups present at the airport. Through this visit to the heart of the economic capital, Cameroon reaffirms its determination to safeguard its territory and ensure the long-term health of its citizens against any external threat.
