What Is the Current Situation?
The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) of Sudan and the World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that there is an outbreak of yellow fever in Sudan. This ongoing outbreak started in early September and has affected 35 localities in Greater Darfur. A total of 849 suspected cases, including 171 deaths, have been reported as of January 9, 2013. Most suspected cases have been reported from Central, South, and West Darfur. WHO is assisting the FMOH of Sudan in the response activities. An emergency mass vaccination campaign to protect people at risk and to stop the spread of yellow fever in the affected areas is currently ongoing with support from international partners.
Yellow fever is always a potential health risk in areas south of the Sahara Desert in Sudan. However, this outbreak of human cases suggests a higher than usual risk of infection for travelers to the Greater Darfur region. Travelers to this area of Sudan are advised to get vaccinated against yellow fever and to take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
This information is current as of today, March 04, 2013 at 14:47 EST Updated: January 16, 2013