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Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) has notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of the outbreak of yellow fever that is affecting 12 localities in West and South Kordofan states.
A total of 44 suspected cases and 14 deaths have been reported from October 3 to November 24, 2013 within the localities of Lagawa, Kailak, Muglad and Abyei in West Kordofan and Elreef Alshargi, Abu Gibaiha, Ghadir, Habila, Kadugli, Altadamon, Talodi and Aliri in South Kordofan.
Field investigations carried out by the FMOH revealed that the first suspected cases were reported among seasonal workers from the eastern states of Sudan who had traveled to West Kordofan for operate in October. Subsequent cases were reported among locals in both West and South Kordofan states, following the arrival from the workers.
Blood samples which were collected throughout the field investigation tested positive for Yellow Fever by IgM ELISA Assay in the National Public Health Laboratory from the FMOH in Khartoum. The samples were retested in the Institute of Pasteur in Senegal and were confirmed to become that of Yellow Fever. Subsequent seroneutralizing (PRNT) testing by WHO researchers also confirmed presence of yellow fever.
The field investigation also found proof of Aedes aegepty mosquitoes in the areas where the infected persons were found. A. aegepty is one vector that may sustain transmission of yellow fever.
WHO is assisting the FMOH to strengthen surveillance efforts and to conduct active case searches around the location. So far no suspected cases happen to be reported from any of the areas outside of in which the initial outbreak occurred. The FMOH has become organizing a massive vaccination program against yellow fever in the impacted areas to avoid further infection.
According to a WHO report, it is estimated that yellow fever infects between 840,000 and 1.7 million people in Africa each year, resulting in about 29,000 to 60,000 deaths.
An outbreak this past year in the Darfur region of Sudan led to 849 suspected cases and 171 deaths. Around 5 million people were vaccinated against yellow fever in the five states of Darfur following the outbreak. In 2005, a yellow fever outbreak seemed to be reported from the South Kordofan state, resulting in 615 suspected cases and 183 deaths. A vaccination campaign followed targeting about 1.6 million individuals the location.
Yellow fever, also known as Yellow Jack, is definitely an acute viral hemorrhagic virus that affects 20 % of the area’s population where it is commonly found. Many instances only result in a mild infection with fever, headache, chills, lower back pain, loss of appetite, vomiting and nausea. In these cases, the infection generally lasts 3 or 4 days.
In about 15 % of cases, sufferers can enter a toxic phase from the disease with recurring fever accompanied by jaundice because of liver damage and abdominal pain. Bleeding in the mouth, eyes and gastrointestinal tract can also be common at this time and vomit could have blood. This toxic phase is lethal in about 20 % of cases, making the overall mortality rate for the disease around three percent. In severe epidemic outbreaks, mortality may rise to 50 % or even more.
For those who survive their infection, they usually do so without any organ damage and they’re supplied with a lifelong immunity towards the virus.
