The challenge of COVID-19 case identification and ascertainment in sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Cameroon

United#COVID-19; Sylvain Raoul Simeni Njonnou; Fernando Kemta Lekpa; Christian Ngongang Ouankou; Eric Vounsia Balti; Simeon Pierre Choukem

doi:10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.24368

The challenge of COVID-19 case identification and ascertainment in sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Cameroon

United#COVID-19, Sylvain Raoul Simeni Njonnou, Fernando Kemta Lekpa, Christian Ngongang Ouankou, Eric Vounsia Balti, Simeon Pierre Choukem

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Confirmation of COVID-19 infection is still challenging in Cameroon due to lack of sufficient RT-PCR tests and screening capacity. International organizations as well as philanthropic donators initially provided these tests. Due to limited kits availability, mass screening is currently a luxury that the country cannot afford. This impacts on estimates of disease prevalence, on the understanding of its burden and delays the implementation of targeted preventive measures. Besides RT-PCR, chest CT-scan could be a useful tool for screening purposes. However, its sensitivity and cost make its integration in management algorithms difficult. We discuss below the challenges and potential solutions that could ease the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection in Cameroon.

Original language	English
Article number	84
Pages (from-to)	1-3
Number of pages	3
Journal	Pan Africa Medical Journal.
Volume	35
Issue number	Suppl 2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.24368
Publication status	Published - 2020

Bibliographical note

Keywords

COVID-19/diagnosis
COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing
Cameroon
Humans
Mass Screening/methods
Sensitivity and Specificity
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

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abstract = "Confirmation of COVID-19 infection is still challenging in Cameroon due to lack of sufficient RT-PCR tests and screening capacity. International organizations as well as philanthropic donators initially provided these tests. Due to limited kits availability, mass screening is currently a luxury that the country cannot afford. This impacts on estimates of disease prevalence, on the understanding of its burden and delays the implementation of targeted preventive measures. Besides RT-PCR, chest CT-scan could be a useful tool for screening purposes. However, its sensitivity and cost make its integration in management algorithms difficult. We discuss below the challenges and potential solutions that could ease the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection in Cameroon.",

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AU - Lekpa, Fernando Kemta

AU - Ouankou, Christian Ngongang

AU - Balti, Eric Vounsia

AU - Choukem, Simeon Pierre

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The challenge of COVID-19 case identification and ascertainment in sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Cameroon

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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