Yellow fever epidemic declared in Congo with 1,000 suspected cases

Epidemic declared after 67 cases of the disease confirmed, including five deaths 

The Aedes Aegypti mosquito transmits the Yellow Fever, Zika and Dengue viruses 



A yellow fever epidemiclll has been declared in three provinces of the Democratic Republic of 




Congo, including the capital Kinshasa. 




The epidemic was declared after 67 cases of the disease were confirmed, with another 1,000 




suspected cases being monitored. 




Health Minister Felix Kabange said seven of the proven cases were indigenous, while 58 were 




imported from Angola, where the outbreak began. 

Health news in pictures 



Health news in pictures 




A further two cases came from remote forested areas not linked to the current outbreak. Five 




people in total have died, Mr Kabange added. 




"I declare today a localised epidemic of yellow fever in the provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo Central 




and Kwango,- he told a news conference. 




Kinshasa represents the main concern for global healthcare officials, as it has a densely packed 




population of more than 12 million people and poor health infrastructure. 




Yellow fever is transmitted by the same mosquitoes that spread the Zika and dengue viruses, 




although it is a much more serious disease. The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that 




affects some patients. 




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Angola yellow fever outbreak spreads 




The global stockpile of yellow fever vaccines has already been depleted twice this year to 




immunise people in Angola, Uganda and Congo 




It currently stands at six million doses, but this may not be enough if there are simultaneous 




outbreaks in multiple highly populated areas. 




Almost 18 million doses have been distributed for emergency vaccination campaigns so far in 




the three African countries. 




World Health Organisation advisers have recommended using a fifth of the standard dose of 




yellow fever vaccine in the event of a global shortage - enough to immunise temporarily but not 




to give lifelong immunity. 




Congo's outbreak, since January, comes at a time when political tensions linked to an upcoming 

presidential election and an economic crisis caused by a commodity slump are already putting a 



huge strain on the country's stability. 



President Joseph Kabila is facing opposition, which has sometimes turned violent, amid 



concerns that he will try to cling to power beyond the expiry of his mandate at the end of this 



year. 

 
Osborne, Samuel. "Yellow Fever Epidemic Declared in Congo with 1,000 Suspected Cases." Independent. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 June 2016.
 

The article is definitely a broad overview into the Congolese situation, not providing must detail and is rather objective. It does however, present a national outcry to the world for the dying population affected by this outbreak. It is interesting to note that the author connects the epidemic a simply a further strain on the current political, economic, and social issues. Its also interesting to note that its a UK news station that reports these incidents concerning its the Congolese government that truly needs to build awareness. This article is meant to enlighten and call for help from various nations as the World Health Organization doesn't seem to even have the funds to aid anymore. With little detail or personal relations and opinion this article serves mainly to make the public aware and cause them to further aid in this predicament.