The Angola yellow fever outbreak continues to grow and expand as UN health officials put the number of suspected cases at 2023 since the outbreak began in December. Six hundred fifty three of the cases have been laboratory confirmed.
Of this total, 258 deaths have been reported. In the week to 24 April, 115 new suspect cases, eight new deaths and 36 new confirmed yellow fever cases were reported.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), three countries have reported yellow fever cases exported from Angola: China (11 confirmed cases), Democratic Republic of The Congo (DRC)(16 confirmed cases) and Kenya (two confirmed cases).
In the DRC, as of 26 April, a total of 37 yellow fever cases (16 confirmed and 21 probable) were reported in DRC (Figure 3). All 16 confirmed cases previously travelled to Angola. The results for the 21 probable cases are pending. In addition, at least two probable cases of locally acquired Yellow Fever infection have been reported in Kinshasa and in Matadi (Kongo central province).
In Uganda, 39 suspect cases of yellow fever cases have been reported in seven districts , as of Apr. 27. Six cases have been laboratory confirmed (five in Masaka and one in Rukungiri). Based on available information, the clusters of yellow fever in Uganda do not seem to be epidemiologically linked to Angola.
WHO states that “No suspected cases of Yellow Fever have been reported in Congo, Namibia or Zambia”. However, media accounts report Namibia, which shares a long and porous border with Angola, has reported the 1st imported yellow fever case.
Namibia health minister, Bernard Haufiku said Wednesday that a case was reported in Ohangwena in northern Namibia. Haufiku said the patient had been to Lubango in Angola.
Related:
- WHO: Travelers to Angola are required to be vaccinated against yellow fever
- Tanzania, Zanzibar cholera update
- Brucellosis outbreak in Algeria exceeds 800 people year to date
