Yellow fever outbreak is still serious, but it does not constitute a public health emergency

The yellow fever outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola is still serious according to the WHO, but it does not constitute a public health emergency.

During a ten-day vaccination campaign in the DRC capital Kinshasa more than 7 million people were been vaccinated. A positive step towards its eradication.

“We heard that Kinshasa has just completed one of the most ambitious emergency Yellow Fever vaccination campaign, which has ever been done. And in just 10 days, more than 7.7 million people in this city of Kinshasa, were vaccinated, most of them with a new method, using the fractionated dose of Yellow Fever vaccine,” disclosed Professor Oyewale Tomori, the chairman of the WHO emergency committee.

This method was used to vaccinate as much people as possible. The vaccine is not readily available given that it requires at least 6 months of manufacturing.

The situation was improving regarding the ongoing yellow fever outbreak in DRC and Angola, showing a positive trend, though it still requires sustained controlled measures, with the rainy season looming in.

“As the rainy season is imminent in Central and East Africa, we also have to be aware there maybe further cases, there may even be further outbreaks, and we need to remain vigilant and eager to respond robustly in that case”, stressed Peter Salama,executive director of the WHO health emergencies program

6 million doses of yellow fever vaccine are in stockpile . WHO hopes it will reach 20 million doses by December.