World Health Organization
منظمة الصحة العالمية
Organisation mondiale de la Santé

Yellow fever vaccination campaign begins in Darfur, 23 November

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Thousands flock to vaccination points in El Geneina of the third day of the vaccination campaign against yellow feverPeople gathered in one of the yellow fever vaccination points in El Geneina, West Darfur23 November 2012 - Thousands gathered in vaccination points in targeted localities in Darfur as Sudan’s Federal Ministry together with its health partners started a 12-day emergency response vaccination campaign.  Some 2.2 million population in 12 prioritized localities are targeted during the vaccination campaign. The campaign is supported by the International Coordinating Group on Yellow Fever Vaccine Provision (YF-ICG), the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), and international nongovernmental organizations. 

As of 21 November, the total number of reported cases has reached 537, including 127 deaths (case fatality rate of 23.6%). The outbreak has now affected 30 localities in Central, South, West, North, and East Darfur.  Together with the Federal and State Ministries of Health, a mission from WHO headquarters and the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean is conducting outbreak field investigations to assess the epidemiological situation, as well as the spread of the disease. Assessment will help identify the next interventions in affected and surrounding areas. In addition, the US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3) based in Cairo, Egypt has deployed a team to Sudan to support laboratory analysis of collected samples as well as conduct on-the-job training sessions at the National Public Health Laboratory starting Saturday 24 November 2012.

Some 2.2 million population in 12 prioritized localities in Darfur have been targeted during the 12-day vaccination campaign.A child receives his yellow fever vaccination
A mission from WHO Headquarters and the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean is conducting outbreak field investigations to assess the epidemiological situation, as well as the spread of the disease.WHO and Federal Ministry of Health staff interviewing one of the suspected yellow fever cases at the El Geneina Teaching Hospital