On April 22, the conference hall of the Centre Pasteur of Cameroon hosted the 77th edition of Pasteur Wednesdays, dedicated to an issue as old as it is concerning: snakebite envenomations. This high-level scientific meeting was held in the presence of Prof. Louis Richard Njock, Secretary General of MINSANTE.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Mirdad Kazanji, Director General of the CPC, recalled the global scale of this scourge, responsible for thousands of victims each year. Classified as a neglected tropical disease by the WHO since 2017, envenomations remain particularly concerning in Africa, notably in Cameroon, where rural populations are the most exposed.

Moderated by Dr. Nko’Ayissi Barthélémy Georges, a recognized expert in the field and Deputy Director of Neglected Tropical Diseases at MINSANTE, the discussions highlighted the epidemiological and sociocultural realities related to snake bites.

Dr. Tatiana Djikeussi, senior research officer at the Elizabeth Glaser Foundation, emphasized that around 5 million bites occur each year worldwide, of which 2.7 million result in envenomation. These incidents cause between 80,000 and 140,000 deaths, as well as numerous permanent disabilities, primarily affecting rural communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Despite the existence of effective treatments, these cases remain largely underreported.

Dr. Likeng, from the vaccination and rabies treatment department of the CPC, detailed the clinical signs of envenomation: bite marks, bleeding, anemia, paresthesia, vision or taste disorders, vomiting, and intense pain. These manifestations fall under hematotoxic, cytotoxic, or neurotoxic syndromes.

Coming from the Mayo-Oulo district hospital, Dr. Awelsa Benoit emphasized the management in rural areas. He recalled the essential actions to take: reassure the victim, immobilize the affected limb, keep the area below heart level, monitor vital signs, and quickly transfer the patient to a healthcare facility. He also warned against inappropriate practices and highlighted the importance of a rigorous clinical protocol based on evaluation, indication for antivenom, and monitoring.

The officials present also praised 2N Pharmaceutique’s commitment alongside public authorities to improve the availability of antivenom serums.

Despite the progress, many challenges remain: delays in seeking medical consultation, insufficient antivenom, reliance on traditional medicine, difficulties in accessing care, and a lack of trained personnel. All these obstacles highlight the urgency of reinforcing prevention and management strategies in Cameroon