WHO: Yellow fever cases spurt in Sudan: An update

The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in Sudan has notified WHO of a yellow fever (YF) outbreak affecting twelve localities  in West and South Kordofan states. The affected localities are Lagawa, Kailak, Muglad and Abyei localities in West Kordofan and  Elreef Alshargi, Abu Gibaiha, Ghadir, Habila, Kadugli, Altadamon, Talodi and Aliri in South Kordofan.

Between 3 October and 24 November 2013, a total of 44 suspected cases of yellow fever including 14 deaths (CFR: 31.8% ) were reported from this outbreak. The field investigation carried out by the FMOH team revealed that the initial suspected cases were reported among the seasonal workers coming from the eastern states of Sudan who traveled to the state of West Kordofan for gum Arabic plantation during the month of October. Subsequently suspected cases were also reported amongst the locally residing population of both West and South Kordofan states.

Late last year, an outbreak of yellow fever in Darfur region of Sudan resulted in 849 suspected cases including 171 deaths (case fatality rate 20%). Around five million people were vaccinated against YF in the five states of Darfur in response to this outbreak. In 2005, a yellow fever outbreak was also reported from the South-Kordofan state, a place with high nomadic population. During that outbreak, 615 suspected cases including 183 death (CFR: 30%) were reported and a reactive mass vaccination campaign targeting around 1.6 million people in the state was launched to contain the outbreak.