Ministry of health has this morning declared an end of yellow fever outbreak in the country, after fighting for months to contain it.
The announcement was made by Prof. Anthony Mbonye, the acting Director General Health services this morning in Kampala.
According to Prof. Mbonye, Yellow fever outbreak was confirmed in Masaka on 7th April 2016 after three samples were collected from a single family that had showed signs of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) .
The same Yellow fever siagnosis was re-confirmed on 21st April 2016 by CDC Fort Collins (WHO Collaborative Centre for Yellow Fever).
Since then, intensified Yellow Fever Surveillance activities also confirmed Yellow Fever in Rukungiri and Kalangala districts on 13th April 2016 and 4th May 2016 respectively.
“From March 24th to 4th May 2016, a total of 65 suspected Yellow Fever cases were reported in the greater Masaka region. Out of the 65, 7 cases were confirmed. These were from Masaka (5), Rukungiri (1) and Kalangala (1). Three of confirmed cases died” Said Mbonye.
He added that with help from WHO, the CDC, ICG, GAVI, UNICEF and other partners, the ministry of health conducted a reactive Yellow fever Vaccination in the three districts that had confirmed outbreaks of yellow fever targeting residents of Masaka, Rukungiri and Kalangala districts.
“A total of 627,706 individuals aged six months and above were vaccinated including 273,447 in Masaka district, 304,605 in Rukungiri district and 49,654 in Kalangala district. Overall, vaccination coverage of 94% was achieved in 3 districts, 91% in Masaka, 97% in Rukungiri, and 95% in Kalangala district.”
Mbonye added; “following the successful Yellow Fever vaccination campaign in the affected districts, no new cases of yellow fever have been confirmed.”
He explains that disease surveillance efforts are still ongoing to detect any other possible outbreak of Yellow Fever. It is mandatory that individuals travelling from Yellow Fever high risk countries into Uganda are fully vaccinated against the disease before entry in Uganda.
“Today, I have the honor and pleasure to inform the general public and partners, the 2016 Yellow Fever outbreak is fully contained” Prof Mbonye declared today.
