No need to panic about yellow fever

A recent outbreak of yellow fever in Angola has caused fear in northern Namibia but health experts say it’s unlikely the disease would spread to Namibia. Angolan media say the first case of yellow fever was reported in the capital Luanda on December 30 when an Eritrean national was admitted in hospital showing symptoms of the deadly disease. Health minister Jose Van-Dunem was quoted by the Angolan News Agency, Angop, as saying that samples were sent to South African and Senegalese laboratories and the results confirmed what was suspected. Since then, at least 240 cases of yellow fever have been reported, including 51 fatalities. According to Angolan health authorities, the disease was initially confined to Luanda but cases have now been reported in Kwanza Sul, the central highlands and the southern Huila province. The outbreak is said to be the first in 30 years and the authorities have launched an intensive vaccination campaign targeting primarily the capital city’s slums where more than 500 000 people have been vaccinated. Priority is given to children and pregnant women. Angolan authorities say their plan is to eventually deploy 1 700 vaccination teams to curb the disease. The ministries of health, home affairs and defence as well as the World Health Organisation (WHO) are involved in the Angolan campaign. The WHO defines yellow fever as an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. According to the WHO, vaccination is the most important preventive measure against yellow fever, but there is no specific treatment once a person is infected. Yellow fever treatment is only symptomatic, aimed at reducing the symptoms for the comfort of the patient. The WHO says up to 50% of severely affected persons without treatment die from yellow fever. There are an estimated 200 000 cases of yellow fever, causing 30 000 deaths, worldwide each year, with 90% occurring in Africa. Asked about the possibility of the disease spreading to Namibia, health officials said Namibia faced no imminent danger but residents of regions bordering Angola should remain vigilant, take preventive measures and report any suspicious case. Omusati regional health director Robert Nandjila said he was not on top of recent developments as he was attending a meeting in Windhoek. Dr Francine Ananias, who is acting in Nandjila’s stead, said no case had been reported in Omusati so far and there was no reason to be overly worried. The health director for Ohangwena, John Hango, declined to comment, saying trans-border diseases were dealt with at national level. Both Health Minister Bernard Haufiku and Permanent Secretary Andreas Mwoombola are travelling abroad, but the ministry promised it would issue a press release to clarify the situation. PLACIDO HILUKILWA