Ministry confirms 41 yellow fever cases

The Senegalese Health Ministry confirmed 41 cases and four deaths of yellow fever as of 24 October, a World Health Organization update said. The outbreak has affected Touba, east of the capital, Dakar, Mbacke and Bambey districts, in the central Diourbel region and Gossas and Fatick districts in Fatick region, southeast of Dakar, the update said. Thirty-three cases were reported from Touba where urban transmission was occurring, it said, adding that the increase in case numbers was based on testing that had just been completed. Touba is a city of 800,000 people. Most of the positive results were for samples collected early in October shortly after the immunization campaign began in Touba on 1 October. The ongoing immunization campaign began in Diourbel region had achieved coverage rates of 78-94% and the number of suspect cases in this region was declining, WHO noted. The dates of onset of illness for the two most recent confirmed cases were 17 and 20 October, it said. Both cases were reported from Gossas district. "An immunization campaign has been planned, but additional vaccine and operational support are needed to begin the campaign," WHO said. The French government, through its embassy in Dakar, has announced that it will donate 200,000 doses of vaccine to the ministry of health for the immunization In the meantime, surveillance has been intensified in all districts in the country, including the capital, Dakar. To date, there have been no confirmed cases in Dakar, it said. Laboratory testing is being performed by WHO Collaborating Centre at the Institut Pasteur in Dakar (IPD). The Institut de recherche pour le Developpement was carrying out entomological investigations and with IPD and WHO have been assisting the Ministry of Health with surveillance and epidemiological investigations. Yellow fever, according to WHO, is an epidemic viral disease in Africa and the Americas. The "yellow" in the name is explained by the jaundice that affects some patients. There is no specific treatment for yellow fever and vaccination is the most important measure for prevention. Between 1939 and 1952 yellow fever cases almost vanished from French West Africa after intensive vaccination campaigns.