ECHO supports the yellow fever emergency vaccination campaign in Darfur which commenced in November 2012. Phase II of the yellow fever vaccination campaign covered around 1.1 million population or 93% of the targeted population in South, West and Central Darfur.

The outbreak has affected 35 localities in Central, South, West, North, and East Darfur. As of 6 January 2013, the total number of suspected cases has reached 849, including 171 deaths (case–fatality rate of 20.1%).

As part of the emergency response plan, WHO recommended the third phase of vaccination campaign for approximately 2 million people residing in Kabkabiya, Edd Elfursan (including Kabum locality), Elwihda, Shaeriya (including Yassin locality), Eldaen, Rokiro and Um Dukhun.

The first vaccine shipment of 670 400 doses is scheduled to arrive in Sudan on 14 January, while the second shipment of 702 000 doses and third shipment of 827 600 doses will be delivered shortly afterwards.

To further assess the epidemic risks in other areas of the country, the national yellow fever risk assessment was completed on 29 December 2012. A total of 1754 blood samples were collected from eight sites of the four ecological zones in Sudan. Virologist from Institute Pasteur in Dakar arrived in Khartoum and started to analyse the collected samples at the National Public Health Laboratory.

Related link

Situation Report No 15. Yellow fever outbreak in Darfur, 10 January 2013