3 February 2016, Luanda - Angolan authorities started Tuesday a multisectoral massive campaign with the aim of to stop the current yellow fever outbreak in the province of Luanda, whose balance as of today is of 96 suspected cases and 26 deaths.

This campaign is planned to vaccinate in a first phase all the inhabitants of the Municipality of Viana older than 6 months of age, which are approximately 1,7 million people;  to increase  community participation for vector control, as well as  to reinforce health  partnerships at provincial level.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, in December 2015, WHO is providing technical support to the national authorities in key areas like epidemiological surveillance, virology, data management, laboratory analysis, vector control and social mobilization.

The launch of the campaign was chaired by the Governor of the Luanda Province, General Higino Carneiro, with the participation of the Angolan Minister of Health, Dr José Van-Dúnem, the WHO Representative in Angola, Dr Hernando Agudelo, the UNICEF Representative, Dr. Francisco Songane, municipal and provincial officers, and officials of the national army whose effectives are also engaged.

The Governor of the Province of Luanda launched an appeal to partners and all stakeholders, including families, communities, churches and the private sector to provide their support to  overcome the Yellow fever outbreak.

The first cases of yellow fever were detected among Eritrean and Congolese citizens living in the municipality of Viana, province of Luanda. As of today suspected cases have been reported among citizens of other provinces, namely Huila, Kuanza-Sul and Huambo. The majority of those reported had previously visited affected areas in Viana.  According to the Ministry of Health, as of today, 3rd February 2016,  a total of 96 cases and 26 deaths were reported. Laboratorial confirmation is still expected for the suspected cases reported in the provinces.

Some other activities to face the Yellow Fever epidemic are, to reinforce of the national capacity in diagnosis, to improve environmental health in the peripheral areas and neighbourhoods of the capital city and to distribute impregnated mosquito nets to communities

The two last yellow fever outbreaks in Angola occurred in 1971 and in 1986. The current outbreak started on 5th  December, 2015 in Viana municipality, which is located from about 20 km from Luanda, the capital.  Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted via the bite of Aedes aegypty mosquitoes. The first symptoms of this disease are high fever, muscle pain, headache, shivers, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. During the second phase, the patients develop jaundice and sometimes bleeding, with blood appearing in the vomit. About 50% of patients who enter the toxic phase die within 10–14 days.

________________________________________________________

For more information, please contact:

SOARES CAETANO Jose Da Costa, Email: soarescaetanoj [at] who.int