WHO reports outbreak of yellow fever in the DR Congo
World Health Organisation Director-General Margaret Chan. Dr Chan visited Angola last month and called for the vaccination of every citizen following outbreak of yellow fever. PHOTO | ALAIN GROSCLAUDE |
What you need to know:
The disease has killed 277 people since its outbreak in Angola while more than 2,000 others are infected.
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan visited Angola last month and called for the vaccination of every citizen.
The southern African country government has not given an update on the disease.
KINSHASA, Saturday
The World Health Organisation has expressed alarm following an outbreak of yellow fever in the DR Congo.
A WHO update showed that the viral disease was mainly concentrated in large urban centres.
WHO also said that there was a high chance of the disease spreading to neighbouring countries.
According to the organisation’s records, the disease has killed 277 people since its outbreak in Angola while more than 2,000 others are infected.
“Thirty eight cases were exported to neighbouring DR Congo, Kenya reported two while one traveller carried the disease to China,” the statement said.
“This highlights the risk of international spread through non-immunised travellers.”
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan visited Angola last month and called for the vaccination of every citizen.
“Angola urgently needs to vaccinate 19.3 people in 12 provinces,” the top WHO official said.
Angola has a population of 26 million spread across 18 provinces.
So far, the southern African country government has not given an update on the disease.
The Voice Of America radio recently said the country needed to embark on a vaccination drive.
Yellow fever is spread by a type of mosquito species that also transmits the Zika virus.
