South Sudan declares yellow fever outbreak
South Sudan declared on Sunday outbreak of hemorrhagic yellow fever in Western Equatoria State.
Yolanda Awel Deng Juach, the minister of health told journalists in Juba, the capital of South Sudan that the first case of yellow fever was detected in an 18-year-old male patient in Kangura village of Gangura payam on 21st December 2023.
She noted that the patient had developed symptoms of generalized body weakness, headache, epigastric discomfort, fever and vomiting of blood and jaundice.
“A team of experts from national, subnational, World Health Organization (WHO) and partners were mobilized to conduct a detailed field investigation, active case search, community mobilization and sensitization in Gangura area and its surrounding areas,” said Deng.
She noted that the results of the sample collected from the case patient and tested at the National Public Health Laboratory on 24th December 2023 and later at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) confirmed yellow fever infection.
Deng said that they have activated the National Public Health Emergency Operations Center in Juba and Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) fronts to conduct massive surveillance and research.
She advised the general public and travelers to get vaccinated for yellow fever and practice preventive measures as the country waits for yellow fever vaccines to arrive.
Deng disclosed that the ministry of health with support from WHO has applied to the International Coordination Group (ICG) that manages the Global Stockpiles of the yellow fever vaccines .
“Travelers are urged to comply with this travel requirement to ensure that the risk of spread of yellow fever through international travel is minimized and the population is advised to always sleep under a mosquito net,” said Deng.
“We anticipate that in the next few weeks, yellow fever vaccines will be available and vaccination will commence in Yambio and the surrounding counties to contain spread of the virus,” she said.
Deng said that they have available experienced expertise in the country to combat yellow fever virus.
