Sadc, WHO join hands in fight against yellow fever

Lifestyle

Sifelani Tsiko ---
The World Health Organisation is working closely with some Sadc countries which are neighbours to Angola to fight the spread of yellow fever in the region.

In an update, the WHO said it was working with neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Namibia and Zambia to bolster cross-border surveillance with Angola and information sharing to prevent and reduce the spread of infection.

Angola has been grappling with the worst yellow fever outbreak in more than three decades which has seen the epidemic spreading to six of the country’s 18 provinces, affecting 617 people and killing 250, according to the WHO.

Since the yellow fever outbreak began in December 2015 in the capital, Luanda, there were 1 908 suspected cases that were reported, 617 of which were confirmed.

Following the outbreak in Angola, the WHO placed the following countries on its low-risk yellow fever list: Zambia, Tanzania, Eritrea, Somalia, Sao Tome and Principe.

Namibia, Zambia, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe went on high alert with some of the countries implementing yellow fever vaccinations on arrival for those without the required certificate.

Health experts say yellow fever virus is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, the most common species being Aedes aegypti – the same mosquito that spreads the Zika virus.

Symptoms, they say, include fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. At least half of severely affected patients who don’t receive treatment die within 10 to 14 days.

Yellow fever vaccinations are still on-going and under some measure of control in Angola and this has compelled South Africa to scrap yellow fever vaccinations for travel between Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa.

“Such outbreaks usually occur in tropical rain forests,” explains Dr Sergio Yactayo, expert on epidemic diseases at WHO in the update.

“But with the majority of cases reported in the capital city Luanda, the situation is more dangerous and difficult to contain because the disease can spread easily from one person to another.

“We are already seeing cases spread to a number of provinces outside Luanda.”

Cases of yellow fever have also been reported in other countries including China, DRC, Namibia and Kenya.

Namibia showed how it truly embodied the Sadc spirit of solidarity and unity when it donated an array of medical supplies worth more than N$ 177 424 recently to the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation for shipment to the health authorities in Angola.

“We and the Angolan nation have long-standing historic relations and we are interdependent,” Namibian health minister Bernard Haufiku was quoted saying in the media in that country.

“Not only is it our responsibility to assist our neighbours in times of crisis, but due to the fact that many Namibians and Angolans travel frequently between the two countries, we must do our part to contain the outbreak.”

The medical supplies consisted of paracetamol syrup for babies, tablets for adults and syringes and needles.

“After consulting with the Angolan authorities and the World Health Organisation (WHO), we've been assured that they have adequate supplies of vaccines and thus decided to assist with pain medication and consumables” the minister said.

Said international relations deputy minister, Maureen Hinda accepting the donation: “Angola has sacrificed tremendously for the people of this country and it is only befitting that we remain an all - weather friend to the people of Angola, and be among the first to give a helping hand when the people of Angola are faced with a crisis of this nature, and prevent further loss of lives.”

The Namibian travelling public was urged to get vaccinated at any public or private health point to save lives and prevent the further spread of yellow fever.

Namibia has not imposed any travelling ban and people travelling to and from Angola without vaccination cards are vaccinated at the port of entry and monitored for seven days.

“Diseases do not respect borders, among others. What is today an Angolan crisis could easily be a Namibian and/or SADC crisis. An injury to Angola is an injury to Namibia,” said Hinda.

Meanwhile, Zambian cross – border traders are reported to have welcomed the removal of the yellow fever requirement to visit South Africa and Botswana, saying that it will boost business in the Southern African region.

COMESA/SADC Traders Trust chairperson Donald Kachingwe said a good number of business persons had previously suffered harassment for forgetting to carry yellow fever certificates.

Health Minister Joseph Kasonde recently announced that the Government had reached an agreement with both South Africa and Botswana to allow Zambians travel to the two countries without yellow fever certificates.

“This is great news to cross-border traders, we have been waiting for this for a long time,” Kachingwe was quoted saying in an interview.

“Many cross-borders traders have suffered and lost out on business because of this requirement. Apart from that, these countries were very strict that they would harass you and send you back if you do not have a yellow fever certificate.”

He noted that the waiver was also a relief because the traders were made to pay exorbitantly for vaccination in order to obtain the certificate

Following the outbreak, Zimbabwe announced that it would strengthen surveillance systems at all ports of entry to prevent the further spread of the epidemic.

However, it did not impose any travel ban to Angola.

The WHO says the vast majority of cases and deaths take place in sub-Saharan Africa, where yellow fever is a major public health problem occurring in epidemic patterns.

It further says that Africa also experiences periodic yet unpredictable outbreaks of urban yellow fever.

At least 32 African countries are now considered at risk of yellow fever, with a total population of 610 million people, among which more than 219 million live in urban settings.

Yellow fever is endemic in 10 South and Central American countries and in several Caribbean islands.

Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru and Venezuela are considered at greatest risk.

“Although the disease usually causes only sporadic cases and small outbreaks, nearly all major urban centres in the American tropics have been reinfested with Aedes aegypti and most urban dwellers are vulnerable because of low immunization coverage. Latin America is now at greater risk of urban epidemics than at any time in the past 50 years,” the WHO said in an update.

The WHO further observed that the density and habitats of Aedes aegypti (the mosquito vector of yellow fever) have expanded both in urban and rural areas.

Globally, there are an estimated 200 000 cases of yellow fever yearly, causing 30 000 deaths and the Americas accounts for 95 percent of all yellow fever cases, according to the WHO.

In urban areas, risk can be reduced by eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites and reducing people’s exposure to mosquito bites.