Angola’s Yellow Fever Death Toll Rising

Local Editor

Up to 250 people have died from yellow fever in Angola since late December 2015 when the first case was detected.

Yellow fever, which doesn't have a specific treatment, is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes and found in tropical regions of Africa and Latin America.

Meanwhile, the country's capital and largest city of Luanda remains the worst-hit area, with nine of every 10 deaths registered in the city over the last days.

In the context, the head of the Luanda pediatrics hospital, Mateus Campos, said 27 children died there on Monday alone, with 900 suspected cases turning up each day.

For her part, Angola's Health Ministry spokeswoman Adelaide de Carvalho told AFP that the ministry registered 76 suspect cases and 10 deaths in three days alone this month, but gave no overall toll.

A week ago the World Health Organization put the death toll at 250 but some doctors believe the situation may be far worse.

Authorities launched a mass vaccination campaign in February and the government urged residents to sterilize stagnant water before drinking it.

Yellow fever vaccinations are routinely recommended for travelers to Angola, though the country had not previously seen a significant outbreak since 1986.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team