Africa: Angola reports 7 yellow fever cases detected during routine surveillance
Last month, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Angola officially notified the World Health Organization of the confirmation of seven yellow fever cases. These cases were confirmed by the WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Yellow Fever (Centre Pasteur du Cameroun) from samples collected through routine surveillance between July 2024 and February 2025.
The confirmed cases originated from five provinces: Luanda, Benguela, Malanje, HuÃla, and Huambo. All cases were unvaccinated individuals aged between 12 and 30 years, with the exception of one infant under one year. No deaths have been reported to date.
Yellow fever is a severe viral disease with jaundice and hemorrhagic manifestations that is spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Yellow fever vaccine is the best protection against this disease. Travelers to areas where vaccination is recommended should be vaccinated at least 10 days before travel. Preventing mosquito bites is also important.
Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches, and develop 3–6 days after infection. About 15% of people infected with yellow fever virus will develop severe illness that can lead to liver disease, bleeding, shock, organ failure, yellowing skin and eyes (jaundice), and sometimes death.
There are no medications to treat or cure yellow fever.