SENEGAL: Yellow fever reported

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SENEGAL: Yellow fever reported

ABIDJAN, 7 October (IRIN) - The Senegalese Ministry of Health has reported some 12 cases of yellow fever particularly in the central Mbaké department, which includes the city of Touba with 800 000 inhabitants, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

The Ministry of Health, WHO added, had started a vaccination campaign on 1 October. A vector control campaign was also being carried out within the city. A national investigation team and entomologists from the Institute Pasteur, Dakar would be traveling to Touba to assess the outbreak.

WHO said it had offered Senegal assistance for implementation of the vaccination campaign, surveillance and other containment measures.

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.

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