The occurrence of cholera on the Atlantic coast of Cameroon, especially in Douala is not just a public health
crisis but a humanitarian disaster as well. From 2010 to 2012, 23,000 people contracted cholera of which 843
died. Based on a field inventory (2010, 2011 and 2012 epidemiological periods), this study posits that, cholera
endemic heavily impacts the younger age groups, with the young adult and adult age groups being the most
vulnerable. As concerns sex, the males are far more vulnerable than females. Cholera risk factors such as slum
settlements, lack of proper social amenities and services, for example, potable water; drainage; waste collection;
hygiene and sanitation facilities, are generally spread throughout the Atlantic coast, though characterized by
glaring unevenness. Social characteristics not generally considered in public health strategies, including:
attitudes towards hygiene and sanitation; limited knowledge of diseases/cholera transmission mechanisms, as
well as “magico-religious” beliefs on the origins of cholera, are, however reasons for the high vulnerability to
cholera and/or major hindrances to effective mitigation. Though there appears to be a direct relationship between
the existence of cholera risk factors and community vulnerability, it might be deduced that social attitudes and
beliefs are the bridge linking these two concepts.