WHO: Angola Yellow Fever Outbreak Spreads to DRC


13th April, 2016 01:42:52 printer

WHO: Angola Yellow Fever Outbreak Spreads to DRC

The World Health Organization said Monday at least 21 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo have died from yellow fever connected to an outbreak in neighboring Angola.


The WHO said that as of March 22 there were at least 151 suspected cases in the DRC.  It warned that with the high number of people moving between the two countries, a high proportion of people susceptible to infection and the presence of the type of mosquito that transmits yellow fever, there is a "serious risk" for the disease to spread further.


The outbreak began in December in Angola's capital, Luanda, and has since spread to most of the country's provinces with more than 1,100 total cases.  At least 168 people have died in Angola.


Kenya also reported one death and one other infection from people who had traveled to Angola.


The WHO launched a vaccination campaign targeting 6.5 million people to try to prevent further spread of the disease.