WHO/K. Nishino
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Yellow fever in Angola

24 March 2016

Angola is grappling with a yellow fever outbreak, which has infected more than 355 people and killed 159 – the first epidemic of the disease to hit the country in 30 years.

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3 children holding yellow fever certificates.

159 deaths and 335 people sick from yellow fever in Angola

WHO is working with the Ministry of Health and partners to vaccinate all people older than 6 months in the capital city of Luanda and the surrounding province.
Boy getting a yellow fever vaccination

Vaccination the key prevention measure

More than 5 million people have been vaccinated against yellow fever in this campaign. Vaccination is the single most important measure for preventing yellow fever. The vaccine is safe and affordable and a single dose provides life-long immunity against the disease.
A cooler box of vaccines.

Cold chain infrastructure required for vaccines

The yellow fever vaccine must be stored below 32 degrees Celsius, meaning it requires a cold chain infrastructure for transport and storage.
People filling in yellow fever vaccination certificates.

Travellers should be vaccinated

Travellers to and from countries where yellow fever occurs should be vaccinated and should carry their certificate of vaccination when travelling – this may be inspected by border authorities on arrival. Here, a member of the vaccination team fills in a certificate for this woman and her children who have just been vaccinated.
Woman holding forms that record the number of vaccinations given in this campaign.

Global shortage of yellow fever vaccine

Currently there is a global shortage of the yellow fever vaccine. WHO and partners had vaccinated 5.7 million people in Luanda against yellow fever using vaccines from the International Coordination Group emergency stockpile. This woman, who is a member of the vaccination campaign team, holds registration forms that keep track of the people who have been vaccinated in this campaign.”
A garbage dump.

Yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes

The yellow fever virus is transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes and Haemogogus mosquitoes. This garbage dump is a mosquito breeding site, and indicates the challenges of mosquito control in many urban environments.
A crowd of people.

Fewer reports of new infections

This vaccination campaign is already showing results within weeks, with fewer reports of new infections of yellow fever in Luanda. Vaccination coverage must reach at least 80% of the population to prevent outbreaks.