WHO warns of yellow fever epidemic

REPORTS of yellow fever across
Central, East and West Africa have
increased recently, with the current
outbreak believed to have started
in Angola in December resulting in
close on 200 deaths. The World
Health Organisation describes it as
the “worst yellow fever outbreak in
30 years”.
The death of a man from the
illness in Nairobi prompted the
Kenyan Health Ministry to monitor
points of entry such as airports,
reported The New Times of Rwanda.
Rwandan authorities announced
on March 28 that travellers arriving
at Kigali International Airport without
a valid yellow fever certificate would
have to pay US$40 (R595) for a
vaccination on arrival. Namibia
and Zambia are on high alert for
imported cases of yellow fever,
reports WHO.
“The international health
regulations concerning yellow fever
are unequivocal, and unvaccinated
travellers may face denial of entry,
or even quarantine in certain
circumstances,” says the Netcare
Travel Clinic’s website.
Travellers to countries where yellow
fever vaccination is no longer legally
required, such as Tanzania and
Zambia, have reported that border
post officials in those countries, and
in South Africa for travellers arriving
from at risk countries, often ask
for proof of vaccination, says Fiona
Macduff, travel sister at the Sandton
Travel Clinic.
She advises travellers to regions
bordering Angola and other hotspot
areas, to visit a travel clinic for
advice as well as vaccination. Not
all travel agents are aware of the
latest regulations or yellow card
requirements, she notes.
Countries in Africa that carry a
risk of yellow fever, according to
US-based Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention are: Angola,
Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central
African Republic, Chad, Congo,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon,
The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, GuineaBissau,
Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia,
Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria,
Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Sudan, Togo and Uganda.