Yellow fever in Central African Republic

The WHO EPR Disease Outbreak News and ProMedMail reported 2 laboratory confirmed cases of yellow fever on the 15th May 2008 in Bozoum sub-prefecture, Ouham-Pende Prefecture of the Central African Republic. The Ministry of Health initiated an epidemiological investigation, and requested 64 931 doses of yellow fever vaccine from the Global Emergency Stockpile of Yellow Fever Vaccine, which is funded by the GAVI Alliance. The target population in the Bozoum sub-prefecture was estimated to be 55 035 people, which the Ministry of Health plans to vaccinate during a 3-day campaign starting on the 26th May. Mod. CP in the ProMedMail report notes that it would be important to know whether the 2 laboratory confirmed cases were isolated cases or potentially represent the start of an urban epidemic.

Hopefully the global emergency stockpile which was depleted in February following mass immunizations in South America have been adequately replenished to be able to provide supplies.