Nigeria investigates possible yellow fever epidemic in the south of the country – Xinhua

ABUJA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) – Nigerian health authorities have opened an investigation into a possible yellow fever epidemic in the state of Edo in the south of the country, an official said Tuesday.

Faisal Shuaib, director of the National Agency for Primary Health Care Development (NPHCDA), told reporters in Abuja that tests conducted in local laboratories had shown that samples were positive for yellow fever in the State of the South.

Shuaib said the health authorities, including the NPHCDA, the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the epidemiology team of State of Edo and other partners were working together to quickly conduct a thorough investigation and respond appropriately to the situation.

The NCDC issued a red alert on the yellow fever outbreak in Edo last Saturday.

Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The "yellow" in the name refers to jaundice that affects some patients.

"We would like to assure the general public that all the agencies involved are working quickly to contain the spread and prevent further outbreaks," Shuaib said.

Since September 2017, Nigeria has registered suspected cases of yellow fever in all states of the country.

As a country with endemic yellow fever, Nigeria has received special attention from WHO, UNICEF and other partners and donors, as well as its support , following confirmed epidemics in the country last year.

As of November 11, 140 cases of yellow fever had been confirmed by a local laboratory in Nigeria, according to NCDC data. A yellow fever multi-agency emergency operations center was set up at NCDC to coordinate the national response.

Symptoms of yellow fever include yellowing of the eyes, sudden fever, headache and body pain.

Last April, WHO launched the strategy to eliminate yellow fever epidemics in Nigeria as part of a global effort to ensure the protection and control of yellow fever epidemics by 2026.

On November 22, the government announced the launch of an extensive yellow fever vaccination campaign, targeting 26 million children and adults in Niger, on the Plateau, in Borno, Sokoto in Kebbi and Abuja, the country's capital. The exercise will last until December 1st.