The Ethiopia Public Health Emergency Management Directorate is investigating a probable yellow fever outbreak in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR). To date, there have been 32 suspected cases and 9 deaths reported in Offa Woreda in the Wolaita Zone. Everyone who has not been vaccinated against yellow fever is advised to avoid travel to the affected area.
Below are the recommended Actions to Take:
1. Get vaccinated against yellow fever at least 10 days prior to travel to an affected area. The Black Lion Hospital has the vaccine available.
2. Consult a medical professional if you have recently been in an affected area and have symptoms of yellow fever. The time from infection until illness is typically 3 to 6 days. Common symptoms are as follows:
- Sudden onset of fever
- Chills
- Severe headache
- Back pain
- General body aches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Weakness
- Severe symptoms are high fever, yellow skin, bleeding, shock and organ failure.
3. For more information, visit the website on yellow fever at: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/yellow-fever
The majority of people infected with the yellow fever virus will either not have symptoms or have mild symptoms and completely recover. Once you have been infected, you are likely to be protected from future infections.
Comments are disabled.