Yellow fever outbreaks
01 Dec 2009
Nearly 12 million Africans deemed at highest risk from yellow fever will be vaccinated during the first week in December against the virus, which can cause explosive epidemics in cities, say the World Health Organisation. This has started in Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone 160 million people could still be at risk in Africa if further funding is not secured, the World Health Organisation said. Vaccination campaigns must still be carried out in five more countries - Central African Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Nigeria - to shield those most at risk.
Yellow fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted by the aedesaegypti mosquito; it can cause devastating epidemics, particularly in cities and towns. Vaccination is the best way to prevent yellow fever, which is hard to diagnose in early stages and for which there is no specific treatment.
Most countries require yellow fever vaccination for travel to and from endemic countries to avoid having an outbreak spread elsewhere. Yellow fever areas are changing according to WHO important changes have been made to the maps of South America and Sub-Saharan Africa. Due to global warming the yellow fever areas are dynamic and one should update oneself by speaking to your local health care professional to see whether the injection is required.
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