 has approved more than four hundred thousand doses of yellow fever vaccine for 5 counties in Western Equatoria State.){kind=link}
Ginaba Lino
The International Coordinating Group (ICG) has approved more than four hundred thousand doses of yellow fever vaccine for 5 counties in Western Equatoria State.
This came after the South Sudan Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of yellow fever in Western Equatoria early this month.
According to report 024 released on 19 January 2024 by the public health emergency operations center, the vaccine will be donated to Yambio, Nzara, Ezo, Tombura, and Ibba Counties.
In December, the Ministry of Health released a statement informing the general public of the outbreak in Yambio County.
“The Ministry of Health in South Sudan would like to inform the General Public of the confirmation of yellow fever in Yambio County, Western Equatoria State.”
On 21 December 2023, a young man of 18 years old in Gangura Payam developed symptoms of generalized body weakness, headache, fever, and vomiting.
The results of the sample collected from the case patient and tested at the National Public Health Laboratory on 24 December and later at the Uganda Virus Research Institute confirmed yellow fever infection.
The Ministry of Health has activated the Public Health Emergency operation centers to facilitate a coordinated response.
The Ministry of Health stated that a team of experts from National, subnational, WHO, and partners were mobilized to conduct a detailed field investigation, active case research, community mobilization, and sensitization of Gangura and its surrounding areas.
The Ministry of Health put in some directives to be followed by the general public, which include vaccination of travelers coming in and going out against yellow fever, populations advised to sleep under mosquito nets, and report any suspected case to nearby health facilities or using the call center hotline number (6666).
The ministry called on the public to cooperate with officials during the investigation and response to the outbreak.
The ministry reassures the people of South Sudan that, with the experience and available expertise in the Country, the yellow fever outbreak will be contained.