Fight Against Yellow Fever Epidemic Kicks Off

Vaccination has already begun in the big towns in Cameroon.

The fight against the outbreak of an epidemic of yellow fever in Cameroon has been launched beginning with the bigger regions after which they will move to the smaller regions. It is believed that an outbreak contamination can easily take place in the big towns than in villages where the houses are more spaced out. So far the exercise has kicked off in Douala, Yaoundé, Garoua and Maroua in all district hospitals.
The fever has been discovered in the East Region in Messamena. In 2003 12 cases were discovered in Bafia and Ntui in the Centre Region and Meri in the Far North Region. In Ngaoundéré rural region in 2004, in Yoko 2005, Messamena, 2006, Akonolinga and Messamena 2007, Abong Mbang and Nguelemendouka in the East Region in 2008.
In a vaccination campaign, pregnant women, very sick persons and babies between zero to nine months are exempted. But babies from 9 to 11 months and travellers are immune or are mostly the ones vaccinated. The vaccine expires after 10 years after which it can be renewed In the case of campaign children from nine months in all 62 districts...
The chief of Service of Health at the District hospital in Logbaba, Dr Nyamsi Beke said yellow fever is a virus, Flaviviridae, transmitted by a mosquito, Ades aegyptii, from monkeys. The illness, he said manifests like malaria but the patient’s eyes will be yellow, his fingers and finger nails will be yellow. He said once a patient comes to the hospital manifesting these threats, he is immediately sent to Centre Pasteur in Yaoundé which is the only centre were yellow fever is tested in Cameroon.
He added that it has no cure and it is very contagious and also kills easily. Once a patient is discovered with the diseases, he has to be isolated and a vaccination campaign carried out fast on those around the area.
Dr Nyamsi said if a patient who is diagnosed yellow fever succeeds to get well, it means that his immune system was very strong but if some years to come he will develop cancer of the liver.
The 2009 vaccination campaign which has begun on May 4, will run till May 11. It is carried out in all district hospitals as well as strategic and temporal points such as schools, chiefs compounds.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO