Yellow fever kills 118 in Sudan

GENEVA – An outbreak of yellow fever has killed at least 118 people in Sudan and the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it was sending 1,7 million vaccine doses to prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.

The war-ravaged country’s health ministry has reported 404 cases and 118 deaths in South Kordofan State in central Sudan as of November 16, the WHO said in a statement posted overnight on its website www.who.int. Testing on blood samples sent to a laboratory in Cairo had confirmed 13 of 38 samples were positive for yellow fever, according to the WHO, a United Nations agency.Sudan’s request for vaccines from the emergency stockpile of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation has been approved, the WHO said.”…1,7 million doses of yellow fever vaccine will be arriving in Sudan next week”, it said.The WHO and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will help with a mass vaccination campaign, according to the statement.- Nampa-ReutersTesting on blood samples sent to a laboratory in Cairo had confirmed 13 of 38 samples were positive for yellow fever, according to the WHO, a United Nations agency.Sudan’s request for vaccines from the emergency stockpile of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation has been approved, the WHO said.”…1,7 million doses of yellow fever vaccine will be arriving in Sudan next week”, it said.The WHO and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will help with a mass vaccination campaign, according to the statement.- Nampa-Reuters