Angola intends to quickly control the yellow fever outbreak in the Country
In order to achive the goal, the local government requests the acceleration of the production of vaccines against the disease in the international market
12/05/2016
According to Doctor Filomeno Fortes, despite the governments political and financial commitment, the vaccines availability in the international markets does not allow a fast increase in the vaccine coverage
Vaccination has been the main weapon against the yellow fever outbreak in Angola, Africa, already counting over 250 deaths. This support is fundamental to control the outbreak in the Country, according to the chair of the National Program Against Malaria and Strong Diseases, Doctor Filomeno Fortes.
Despite the political and financial commitment by the Angolan government, the availability of the vaccine in the International market does not allow the quick increase in vaccine coverage, alerts the physician. The country, according to the government, has suffered with the medications shortage and has reinforced the appeal to accelerate the vaccine production.
According to Dr. Filomeno, the increase of the vaccine coverage will ensure the outbreak control until June. Up to the moment, 91% of the Countrys capital, Luanda, have been immunized. Other actions are still in course, as vaccination in righ-risk provinces and traveller control in the Countrys entry and exit points.
Other measures include the anti-vector integrated combat, reinforced by the epidemiology sureveillance system, community mobilization and case management focused in febrile hemorrhagic jaundice syndromes.
We intend to control the oubreak in a short period, noticing that April is the rainiest month, and in May, there are still many rain-water and domestic breeding sites [for the vector], stressed the doctor.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared, recentlly, the current yellow fever outbreak in Angola threatens the entire world, including Brazil, where the transmitting mosquito Aedes aegypti has a strong proliferation.
Origins of the outbreak
The outbreaks epicenter was Luanda, leading to further diverse notifications in other provinces. By the end of April, over 2 thousand suspect cases had been reported in the Country.
The first case took place in December 5, 2015, in a private clinic in Luanda. The confirmation of the yellow fever virus circulating in Angola, in January 20th, was reported by a specialized laboratory in South Africa, notifying the WHO in the next day.
In March 29, the Organization classified the outbreak as level 2 emergency in the Emergency Response Framework. Despite this, until now, the Board does not recommend any travel or commercial activities restriction in Angola.…
