300 people killed by yellow fever in Angola - WHO

Close to 300 people have died so far in Angola following the yellow fever outbreak, the WHO said in a statement on Thursday.

The WHO reports that cases of the Angola yellow fever are spreading to the DRC, Kenya and even China.

Here is the latest WHO #YellowFever situation report (26 May 2016) https://t.co/BjG0Kb1jc4 pic.twitter.com/k3YEYT2Zg6

— WHO (@WHO) May 26, 2016

The report further says that despite the intensification of vaccination campaigns, the circulation of the virus still persists in some districts.

The first outbreak of the yellow fever was discovered last year and has now been confirmed in most coastal and central regions of the West African nation.

About 2,536 yellow fever cases have been reported ever since the outbreak was announced.

“The outbreak in Angola remains of high concern due to persistent local transmission in Luanda despite the fact that more than seven million people have been vaccinated,” the WHO statement read.

People who travel to Angola are often advised to get vaccinated against yellow fever although the last significant outbreak dates back to 1986.

According to some aid groups, poor health services and vaccine shortages have limited Angola’s ability to contain the outbreak.

AFP