36 Yellow Fever Deaths Confirmed in Africa Precision … – Precision Vaccinations

(Precision Vaccinations News)

According to an update recently published by theAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), yellow fever outbreaks continueacross the continent in 2023.

As of October 28, 2023, the Africa CDC reported a total of 2,779 yellow fever cases, and 36 deaths (CFR: 1.3%)have been reported in seven African Union countries this year.

The impactedcountries are Cameroon (41 cases; 4 deaths), CAR (326; 5), Congo (324; 2), Gabon (79; 0), Guinea (178; 4), Nigeria (1,819; 21), and Uganda (12; 0).

In 2022, 12 countries in the African Regionreported confirmed yellow fever cases.

Yellow fever is an epidemic-prone, vaccine-preventable disease transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. The incubation period ranges from 3 to 6 days. While many people do not experience symptoms, individuals can have more severe symptoms.

Death can occur within 7 - 10 days in about half of cases with severe symptoms.

According to the WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coveragein 2021, routine immunization coverage against yellow fever in the African Region for childhood vaccinations was 48%, much lower than the threshold required to confer population immunity.

In reaction to these data, the WHO and Africa CDCre-assessed the health risk at the regional level in 2022 as moderate.

Currently, the U.S. population is mostly unvaccinated against yellow fever, andthe U.S. Strategic Stockpile has not secured vaccine reserves.

During a sizable epidemic in the U.S., the demand for yellow fever vaccines could surpass production capacities. Sanofi Pasteur'sYF-VAXvaccineis the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine as of November 2023.

For many international travelers, proof of yellow fever vaccination is a requirement to visit at-risk countries, such as Brazil.

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36 Yellow Fever Deaths Confirmed in Africa Precision ... - Precision Vaccinations