WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 13: 21 – 27 March 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 27 March 2022
...
Yellow fever Uganda
8 cases
0 Deaths
0.0% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
On 6 March 2022, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) reported
four yellow fever (YF) cases that tested YF Immunoglobulin M
(IgM) and YF plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT) positive
at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).
These samples had been collected between 3 January and 18
February 2022. Three of these cases originated from Wakiso district
(Katabi, Masulita and Kitende subcounty) and one from Masaka
district (Bukakata subcounty). Three of the cases are females and
one is male. The ages of the cases range between 15 and 57 years.
As of 16 March 2022, a total of eight PRNT positive cases have
been reported, of which seven have been investigated and four have
a history of vaccination against YF. The affected districts in Uganda
are not located at the border. However, Masaka is located close to
the greater Kampala area and Wakiso encircles Kampala. Wakiso
also includes Entebbe, where the international airport is located.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
The MoH has declared a yellow fever outbreak in the country.
The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has been
activated.
National and district rapid response teams have been
deployed to initiate investigations in Wakiso and Masaka
districts.
Selected districts have been identified for phase 1 preventive
mass vaccination campaign.
A request has been submitted to the International
Coordinating Group on vaccine provision for preventive YF
vaccination in areas as indicated by ongoing investigations.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Uganda falls within the YF endemic zone in Africa and is classified
as a high-risk country in the “Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics”
(EYE) Strategy. The exact prevalence and incidence of yellow
fever in Uganda is not known. In addition, the country has
previously registered several YF outbreaks with the most recent
outbreaks reported in 2020 in Buliisa and Moyo districts, and
2019 in Masaka and Koboko districts. However, YF vaccine has
not yet been introduced into routine immunization and the MOH is
currently planning for a preventive campaign in selected districts.
Accordingly, these recurrent outbreaks illustrate the ongoing risk
of sylvatic spillover of YF and risk for disease amplification in both
rural and densely settled urban areas in the largely unimmunized
population.
PROPOSED ACTIONS
The government of Uganda should accelerate introduction
of YF vaccine in the routine Expanded Programme on
Immunization and complete preventive mass vaccination
activities to rapidly boost population immunity. Expedited
planning and implementation of these activities to protect the
population will help avert risk of future outbreaks.
All international travelers aged nine months and above
going to Uganda should be vaccinated against YF as there
is evidence of persistent or periodic YF virus transmission.
Local populations and travelers should avoid mosquito
bites including the use of repellents. The highest risk of
YF virus transmission is during the day and early evening.
Communities should be made aware of YF symptoms
and signs and instructed to rapidly seek medical advice if
presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of this
infection.
View/Open
OEW13-2127032022.pdf (2.232Mb)
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/352663
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 13: 21 – 27 March 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 27 March 2022
...
Yellow fever Uganda
8 cases
0 Deaths
0.0% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
On 6 March 2022, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) reported
four yellow fever (YF) cases that tested YF Immunoglobulin M
(IgM) and YF plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT) positive
at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).
These samples had been collected between 3 January and 18
February 2022. Three of these cases originated from Wakiso district
(Katabi, Masulita and Kitende subcounty) and one from Masaka
district (Bukakata subcounty). Three of the cases are females and
one is male. The ages of the cases range between 15 and 57 years.
As of 16 March 2022, a total of eight PRNT positive cases have
been reported, of which seven have been investigated and four have
a history of vaccination against YF. The affected districts in Uganda
are not located at the border. However, Masaka is located close to
the greater Kampala area and Wakiso encircles Kampala. Wakiso
also includes Entebbe, where the international airport is located.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
The MoH has declared a yellow fever outbreak in the country.
The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has been
activated.
National and district rapid response teams have been
deployed to initiate investigations in Wakiso and Masaka
districts.
Selected districts have been identified for phase 1 preventive
mass vaccination campaign.
A request has been submitted to the International
Coordinating Group on vaccine provision for preventive YF
vaccination in areas as indicated by ongoing investigations.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Uganda falls within the YF endemic zone in Africa and is classified
as a high-risk country in the “Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics”
(EYE) Strategy. The exact prevalence and incidence of yellow
fever in Uganda is not known. In addition, the country has
previously registered several YF outbreaks with the most recent
outbreaks reported in 2020 in Buliisa and Moyo districts, and
2019 in Masaka and Koboko districts. However, YF vaccine has
not yet been introduced into routine immunization and the MOH is
currently planning for a preventive campaign in selected districts.
Accordingly, these recurrent outbreaks illustrate the ongoing risk
of sylvatic spillover of YF and risk for disease amplification in both
rural and densely settled urban areas in the largely unimmunized
population.
PROPOSED ACTIONS
The government of Uganda should accelerate introduction
of YF vaccine in the routine Expanded Programme on
Immunization and complete preventive mass vaccination
activities to rapidly boost population immunity. Expedited
planning and implementation of these activities to protect the
population will help avert risk of future outbreaks.
All international travelers aged nine months and above
going to Uganda should be vaccinated against YF as there
is evidence of persistent or periodic YF virus transmission.
Local populations and travelers should avoid mosquito
bites including the use of repellents. The highest risk of
YF virus transmission is during the day and early evening.
Communities should be made aware of YF symptoms
and signs and instructed to rapidly seek medical advice if
presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of this
infection.
View/Open
OEW13-2127032022.pdf (2.232Mb)
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/352663
Comment