The World Health Organization (WHO) released the latest data on the yellow fever situation in Africa, in which three countries have reported confirmed, autochthonous, or locally transmitted cases of the mosquito borne virus.

Yellow Fever Virus virions/CDC
Yellow Fever Virus virions/CDC

In Angola, the epicenter of the outbreak, from 5 December 2015 to 4 May 2016, the Ministry of Health has reported a total of 2149 suspect cases with 277 deaths and 661 laboratory confirmed cases. 70% of these cases are reported in Luanda province. There are confirmed cases in 13 of the 18 provinces and suspect cases are present in all provinces. Local transmission is still described in six provinces, in 14 districts, including Luanda.

The outbreak in Angola remains of high concern due to persistent local transmission in Luanda despite the fact that almost six million people have been vaccinated, local transmission has been reported in six provinces (urban areas and main ports) and there is a high risk of spread to neighboring countries.

The Ministry of Health in the Democratic Republic of The Congo (DRC) officially declared a yellow fever outbreak on Apr. 23.  As of 4 May, DRC has reported 44 yellow fever cases linked to Angola, 39 of those are 3 laboratory confirmed cases with 37 imported from Angola, reported in Kongo central and Kinshasa provinces, and two autochthonous cases in Ndjili, Kinshasa and Matadi, Kongo central province.

Uganda notified WHO of yellow fever cases in the south-western district of Masaka. On 21 April, one yellow fever case was confirmed in the eastern district of Rukungiri. As of 4 May, 41 suspect cases of yellow fever cases have been reported in seven districts. Seven cases have been laboratory confirmed (five in Masaka, one in Rukungiri and one in Kalangala).

The Uganda clusters have been determined not to be linked to Angola.

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