There is currently an epidemic of yellow fever in Angola, Uganda, and DRC. Sadly, the World Health Organization has just announced that it has almost exhausted its stock of Yellow fever vaccine and is now recommending that less than half the usual dose
be given with the hope that it will give protection for about a year. The normal vaccine protects for 10 years.
What is Yellow fever?
Yellow fever is a viral infection that is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Patients infected with the Yellow fever virus usually present with yellow eyes and fever (hence the name). They may also present with general weakness, body aches, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
These symptoms are similar to those experienced by people with Malaria, Dengue fever, Lassa fever and Zika virus infection so making a diagnosis of Yellow fever is difficult in the early stages.
Later on, patients infected with the Yellow fever virus would start bleeding from the eyes, anus, mouth, nose and eyes hence it is also called the ‘bleeding fever’ by some.
How is it treated?
There is no specific treatment for Yellow fever only the symptoms are treated.
However, vaccination remains the most effective way to protect yourself from yellow fever viral infection.
This is why it is difficult not to think that the World Health Organization and UNICEF who have been tasked with providing these vaccines for us as well as maintaining a healthy stock in case of emergencies have failed us.
How do you get the Yellow fever virus?
The yellow fever virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, the same one that spreads the Zika virus, Chikungunya, and Dengue virus. The mosquito is first infected by biting an infected human or monkey and then it goes on to transmit the infection by biting people.
The disease is not transmitted from person to person.
Those nasty mosquitoes again!
You might want to read my earlier blog on how to prevent mosquito bites at http://blog.drdarams.com//mosquitoes-attracted-others/
Way forward
The W.H.O facilitated the mass preventive yellow fever vaccination campaigns between 2007 and 2016 in 12 African countries. These countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Nigeria and Sudan have commenced preventative mass vaccination campaigns in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Both countries are implementing these campaigns in phases. Nigeria is expected to complete the campaign in 2019 and Sudan in 2017. (W.H.O, 2016)
Take Home Message
Apart from the apparent lack of foresight from the W.H.O and UNICEF, there is also a lack of education amongst the people as to why they should take Yellow fever vaccines.
On march 2nd 2012, South Africa refused entry to 125 Nigerians arriving from Lagos because they carried with them fake Yellow fever cards. South Africa requires proof of vaccination from people entering from more than 40 countries and Nigeria is one of them. South Africa later apologized for the deportations after Nigeria retaliated by refusing entry to many South Africans in Lagos.
It was an open secret at that time that ‘entrepreneurs’ sold fake Yellow fever cards at the Lagos airport to ‘willing and able to pay’ travelers going from Lagos to South Africa. I witnessed this on several occasions.
This problem is partly because people don’t understand the importance of the vaccination with regards to traveling.
I am glad that the Nigerian authorities have stepped up their game to prevent the sale of fake yellow fever cards and kudos to the SA agents who brought this issue to light. It is the duty of the government to educate the people and uphold law and order.
