World Health Organization Warns on Yellow Fever Outbreak in Ethiopia

WHO Warns on Yellow Fever Outbreak In Ethiopia.
WHO Warns on Yellow Fever Outbreak In Ethiopia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns Ethiopia risks experiencing a second curse after Yellow fever was reported. The case was discovered in the South of the Nation. Ethiopia is now battling the COVID-19 virus. This pandemic has channeled all the input and focus toward health all over the world.

Yellow Fever Escalation In Ethiopia.

Ethiopia has now recorded 116 CONVID-19 cases and three deaths so far. WHO announced that the two initial cases of the Yellow fever were recorded on March 3 in the SNNP locality. However, by April 6, the number had escalated to six victims.

“At a national level, the risk was accessed as high. The recent outbreak in SNNP, Gurage zone, shows a rapid increase of the Fever outbreak in the locality.” WHO explained on Wednesday during a statement.

The current confirmation of the fever case at hand with no history of travel is a huge concern. This is a sign of the existence of favorable factors for the escalation of the fever spreading beyond the hotspot localities.

 The spread of the Fever.

Yellow fever is transmitted by a mosquito of a specific specie to human beings.  This fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness. The reason behind the “yellow” is the jaundice symptoms that affect most victims. Some of the symptoms include jaundice, vomiting, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, and fever. A small percentage of patients who are infected with the virus develop severe symptoms. Half of that percentage die within 7 to 10 days after diagnosis.  Yellow fever is prevalent in tropical areas of South America, North America, and Africa. Yellow fever is common to some parts of Africa like Ethiopia.

Epidemics of the fever, especially large ones, happen when patients introduce the virus into a heavily populated locale. In addition, at times areas with a high mosquito density. Also, in places where residents have little or no immunity due to inadequate vaccination programs. Therefore, in favorable conditions, infected mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti species spread the virus from one person to another.  The fever is deadly but can be prevented by a very effective vaccine that is affordable and safe. A single dose of yellow fever is enough to sustain the body’s immunity for a life-long. Therefore, a booster of the vaccine is not necessary. Within ten days after the vaccination, 80-100% of the people vaccinated is effective.

Curbing the spread of the fever.

According to the WHO Organization, the previous yellow fever outbreak occurred in August 2008. This happened around the SNNP region. There were a total of five confirmed cases from the Wolayita Zone. The organization also noted that the contraction risk of Yellow Fever is low in the area at the moment. This is because the rate of movement around the zone is low both internationally and nationally. The low movement is due to the travel restrictions following the Corona pandemic globally.

Ethiopia has been conducting a yellow fever vaccination program targeting people living in hotspot areas. Good supportive medication in hospitals improves the chances of survival. However, currently, no anti-viral of yellow fever is available.

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