Yellow Fever

What do you really know about Yellow fever?

If you grew up in Nigeria, you’ve probably heard of it before as a sister disease to Malaria, because they are both transmitted by Mosquito bites. But what do you really know about Yellow Fever?

Did you know there is an ongoing epidemic which started in Sept 2017 and all 36 states have reported at least one suspected case, and a total of 58 cases have been confirmed by the WHO reference Laboratory, Institute Pasteur, Dakar, Senegal from 14 states, (Kwara, Kogi, Kano, Zamfara, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Katsina, Edo, Ekiti, Rivers, Anambra, FCT, and Benue States). There are also 140 cases so far, confirmed by a Nigerian laboratory

The latest cases were reported in Edo state on 22nd, November 2018 and confirmed positive samples by a Nigerian Laboratory while awaiting the WHO results.

Yellow fever is hemorrhagic fever like Ebola and is transmitted by bites of infected mosquitoes. Preventions are the same as for malaria, sleep with mosquito nets, clear all stagnant water and breeding areas but most importantly GET VACCINATED. The vaccine lasts a lifetime so if you are POSITIVE you have received one, then you’re fine. If you are not sure, or you collected the yellow card while travelling without taking the shot… then now would be a good time to go and get it.

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC is aware of the situation and according to their press release, they are working with the Edo State Gov., WHO Nigeria, and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA to investigate and respond to the situation. The NCDC's website is a great source of information on public health in Nigeria, they release Disease Situation Reports on ongoing epidemics in Nigeria and update them very regularly. They are also active on social media and give reports there as well. Their Facebook & Twitter handle is @NCDCgov

This summary on Yellow fever from their twitter page, as well as the latest situation report on Yellow Fever ( the pdf doc.), tells you what you need to know.