WHO Notes Substantial Spike In African Yellow Fever Outbreaks In 2008 - AllAfrica

Dakar — As international agencies respond to the emergence of the deadly yellow fever virus in Guinea, experts say they are increasingly concerned about a rise in outbreaks across Africa. Africa saw 13 yellow fever outbreaks in 2008, as opposed to an average two to five per year in recent years, according to Sergio Yactayo, adviser on the World Health Organization's (WHO) yellow fever prevention team in Geneva.

There have been four outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa since December 2008 - in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea and Sierra Leone, according to Yactayo. "We have never had so many outbreaks in such a short period as we have now. We are very worried there could be more on the way," Yactayo told IRIN. "We must prepare for that."

Yellow fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted by mosquitoes. The vast majority of cases and deaths take place in sub-Saharan Africa, with 32 African countries considered to be "at risk."

West Africa is the continent's most-affected region, with 72 percent of the region experiencing outbreaks since 2000, according to WHO.

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