News
25 October 2005
Yellow fever in Senegal and Venezuela
Senegal
As of October 11 2005, the World Health Organization has received reports from the Senegalese Ministry of Health (MoH) of two fatal cases of laboratory-confirmed yellow fever in the district of Goudiri, eastern Senegal near the border with Mali [1]. A 20 year-old man and a ten year-old girl died on 25 and 30 September 2005 respectively. An epidemiological investigation is underway.
A mass vaccination campaign has been organised by the MoH, with the support of the WHO and UNICEF, targeting 150,000 persons in Goudiri, and the neighbouring district of Kidira.
Venezuela
As of October 21 2005, there have been several media reports of yellow fever cases and deaths from Venezuela [2,3]. Reported cases have originated from the States of Merida, Apure, Portuguesa and Bolivar. Some of these cases have followed epizootic outbreaks in the monkey population. Emergency vaccination campaigns are being undertaken to protect the human population at risk.
Recommendations for travellers
These recent cases of yellow fever in Africa and South America indicate that transmission of yellow fever to humans continues to occur, and emphasises the importance of yellow fever vaccination to protect travellers who visit endemic areas. The risk for yellow fever can be assessed by referring to maps of endemic areas. The requirements for yellow fever vaccination under International Health Regulations [4] may be determined by consulting the WHO country listings. In all situations the risk of yellow fever must be balanced with the age and health status of the traveller, taking into account any potential vaccine contraindications.
References
1. World Health Organization. Yellow Fever in Senegal. 20 October 2005. Online resource, accessed 24 October 2005. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2005_10_20/en/index.html
2. International Society for Infectious Diseases. Yellow Fever - Venezuela (Portuguesa). 18 October 2005. ProMed Mail. Online Resource, accessed 24 October 2005. http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:
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3. International Society for Infectious Diseases. Yellow Fever - Venezuela. 22 October 2005. ProMed Mail. Online Resource, accessed 24 October 2005. http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:
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PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1010,30777
4. World Health Organization. International Health Regulations (2005). Geneva: World Health Organization, 2005:1-60. http://www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA58/A58_55-en.pdf
Links
UNICEF. Best Practices: Preventing Yellow Fever in Venezuela. Immunization Plus Quarterly Newsletter 2005 January-March; 1(1): 4-5
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/files/IPlusQuarterlye
NaTHNaC information sheet on yellow fever
http://www.NaTHNaC.org/travel/factsheets/YF.htm
NaTHNaC information sheet on yellow fever vaccine
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