Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adult Populations in Cameroon: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study Among Blood Donors in the Cities of Yaoundé and Douala.

Over a period of about 9 months, we conducted three serosurveys in the two major cities of Cameroon to determine the prevalence of SARS-COV-2 antibodies and to identify factors associated with seropositivity in each survey. We conducted three independent cross-sectional serosurveys of adult blood donors at the Central Hospital in Yaoundé (CHY), the Jamot Hospital in Yaoundé (JHY) and at the Laquintinie Hospital in Douala (LHD) who consented in writing to participate. Before blood sampling, a short questionnaire was administered to participants to collect their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. We included a total of 743, 1202, and 1501 participants in the first (January 25-February 15, 2021), second (May 03-28, 2021), and third (November 29-December 31, 2021) surveys, respectively. The adjusted seroprevalence increased from 66.3% (95% CrI 61.1-71.3) in the first survey to 87.2% (95% CrI 84.0-90.0) in the second survey, and 98.4% (95% CrI 96.8-99.7) in the third survey. In the first survey, study site, participant occupation, and comorbid conditions were associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity, whereas only study site remained associated in the second survey. None of the factors studied was significantly associated with seropositivity in the third survey. Together, the data suggest a rapid initial spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the study population, independent of the sociodemographic parameters assessed.

Vertebromedular histoplasmosis: About a case of transverse myelitis in a young and immunocompetent adult.

Systemic mycosis raging endemic, histoplasmosis has an increasing incidence with the advent of HIV-AIDS. The authors report a case of vertebra-medullar histoplasmosis mimicking tuberculous spondylodiscitis in a patient without proven immunosuppression. This was a patient who spent 3 years in a highly endemic area. He presented with signs of transverse myelitis. MRI of the lumbar spine showed a para-vertebral tumor lesion that partially infiltrated the spinal cord. The positive diagnosis of histoplasmosis was made by histomorphology, and symptoms were reduced with administration of itraconazole. These findings show the need for a proper coding of the management of patients living or having stayed in histoplasmosis endemic areas, whether they are immunocompromised or not.

Deuil et infection à COVID-19 : à propos d'un cas dans un centre de crise de Yaoundé

Le personnel soignant en première ligne dans la riposte contre l'infection à COVID-19 et les familles des défunts au COVID-19 vivent pour certains des troubles anxieux, des burn-outs et des troubles dépressifs caractérisés, suite à la perte soit d'un patient soit un proche. Ces troubles sont relevés dans la littérature mondiale. Le sujet africain vit dans un environnement culturel plus communautaire qu'individualiste. Il peut donc souffrir davantage lorsqu'il est privé de ses commémorations culturelles au cours de la mise en terre des morts, dans un contexte de mesures barrières physiques et communautaires des gouvernements. Notre cas clinique se propose de montrer une autre affection « psychiatrique » étiquetée de deuil pathologique, qui pourrait se développer dans notre continent, contrairement à d'autres dans les mois avenir. Nous montrerons ainsi l'intérêt de l'accompagnement psychologique à long terme dans les centres de crise