The government of South Sudan in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other partners in response to the confirmed outbreak of yellow fever on 24 December 2023, with two laboratory-confirmed cases identified in the Western Equatoria station on February 3, 2024, have Launched a vaccination campaign against yellow fever to curb the spread of the disease targeting about 610000 people in the western part of the county.
South Sudan in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),and other partners have launched a reactive yellow fever vaccination campaign as part of preventive response intervention following the confirmed outbreak of yellow fever on December 24, 2023, with two laboratory-confirmed cases identified in the Western Equatoria State.. The campaign targets about 610,000 individuals aged nine months to 65 years in Yambio, Tambura Ezo, Ibba, and Maridi counties.
« Yellow fever vaccines will be available and vaccination will commence in Yambio and the surrounding counties to contain the spread of the virus”
Yolanda Awel Deng, Minister of Health – South Sudan
The yellow fever vaccination campaign aligns with the global strategy to Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) by 2026.This reactive measure aims to protect populations at high risk and act as a bridge toward integrating yellow fever vaccine into routine immunization systems.The ministry of Health also assures the population of the governments undying to eradicate the disease from the country.
“The ministry would like to reassure the south sudanese, the public in general and other residents that would experience an available expertise in the country. This yellow fever outbreak will be contained in time”
Yolanda Awel Deng, Minister of Health – South Sudan
Yellow fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, poses a significant public health threat. Characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue, the disease can lead to severe complications, with approximately half of patients succumbing within 7 to 10 days. The burden of yellow fever in Africa is estimated at 84,000–170,000 severe cases and 29,000–60,000 deaths annually according to the WHO.
