A single case of yellow fever has been confirmed in a young girl living in Darou Marnane Ndia area, about 150kms NE of Dakar. The child, who was unvaccinated and lived in a district known to have sub-optimal vaccination rates, is recovering ‘with symptomatic treatment as an outpatient’ – no further cases were detected during follow up surveillance in the local area. The WHO has advised catch up immunisation campaigns (severely impacted by the pandemic) as well as vector control after surveys detected mosquito infestation rates above 22% with a ‘high proportion identified as a yellow fever vector, Aedes aegypti ‘. Read more
Advice for travellers
Yellow fever virus is a mosquito-borne disease found in tropical and subtropical areas in Central/South America and Africa. While it can be severe, yellow fever infection is a very rare in Australian travellers. However, under the International Health Regulations (IHR), proof of vaccination may be required of any traveller entering or leaving an area at risk of yellow fever transmission. Read more about yellow fever.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.