By Kampala Post Reporter
The Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of yellow fever in Northern Uganda, after three patients died in Moyo and Buliisa Districts.
Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng says laboratory tests confirmed four cases of yellow fever, reported from the two districts. She says the two people who died in Moyo were timber traders suspected to have contracted the disease from South Sudan where they were operating. The one who died in Buliisa was a DR Congo-based milk dealer.
Addressing a joint news conference with officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala on Friday, Aceng said a team has been dispatched to Moyo and Buliisa districts to vaccinate residents.
She revealed that the Ministry has also applied to GAVI and WHO for inclusion of the Yellow Fever vaccination into the routine immunization schedule. “Having faced 4 outbreaks, Uganda now qualifies to introduce Yellow Fever vaccine as a long term measure to prevent Yellow Fever outbreaks,” she said.
WHO Country Director, Tedros Adhanom says the organization is supporting Uganda’s efforts to prevent further spread of the disease. He urged those traveling to ensure they are vaccinated.