By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Two yellow fever cases in individuals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) tested positive by Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) at Centre Pasteur in Cameroon (CPC) on July 18, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report.

DRC map
Democratic Republic of the Congo/CIA

The first case is a 34-year-old man from the Abuzi health zone, North Ubangi province, Democratic Republic of the Congo whose date of symptom onset was 20 February 2021 with fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, back pain and physical asthenia. Jaundice appeared on 25 February.

The second case is a 47 year-old female unvaccinated against yellow fever from Ango Health zone, Bas Uele province. He first exhibited symptoms on 7 May 2021.

In addition, confirmatory results are pending for three other presumptive positive cases from Equateur, Kinshasa and North Ubangi provinces.

Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever that spreads through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

Symptoms of yellow fever (fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches) develop 3-6 days after infection. About 15% of people infected with yellow fever virus will develop severe illness that can lead to liver disease, bleeding, shock, organ failure, yellowing skin (jaundice), and sometimes death.

There are no medications to treat or cure yellow fever. Yellow fever vaccine is the best protection against this disease.