Yellow Fever in Senegal - Update
Updated: December 3, 2002
Health Canada routinely monitors the occurrence of yellow fever (YF)
globally and recommends that travellers to areas where YF is present (endemic)
be vaccinated against yellow fever. YF is endemic in many tropical regions
of South America and Africa. For the most part, yellow fever transmission
occurs in rural and jungle areas. From time to time, an increase in yellow
fever activity or an outbreak occurs.
At this time, Senegal in West Africa is experiencing an outbreak.
As of November 28, the Ministry of Health of Senegal has officially confirmed
a total of 60 cases of yellow fever and 11 deaths in the following areas:
- Touba, Mbacké and Bambey districts in the Diourbel region;
- Gossas, Fatick and Guinguinéo districts in the Fatick region;
- Darou Mousty and Kébémer districts in the Louga region;
- Khombole and Thiadiaye districts in the Thiés region;
- Tambacounda district in the Tambacounda region;
- Sedhiou district in Kolda region; and,
- Dakar Centre district, Dakar region.
Preliminary laboratory testing suggests that one case has occurred in
Dakar, the capital, and is being investigated further.
The Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and other international
partners are taking measures to contain the outbreak.
Source: World Health Organization
Recommendations
Health Canada recommends that travellers to Senegal at this time seek
an individual risk assessment with a travel medicine physician prior to
departure to determine their need for yellow fever vaccination.
For more information, visit our disease
information page on yellow fever at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/info/yf_fj_e.html.
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