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Yolanda Awel Deng, Minister of Health announced the new development on Saturday, after an outbreak was reported in Yambio County.
The case was from an 18-year-old male patient from Kangura village in Gangura Payam, Yambio County of Western Equatoria State who developed symptoms of generalized body weakness, headache, epigastric, discomfort, fever, vomiting of blood and jaundice.
The sample sent to the National Public Health Laboratory in Juba and Uganda Virus Research Institute tested positive.
“The Ministry of Health in South Sudan would like to inform the general public of the confirmation of an outbreak of yellow fever in Yambio County, Western Equatoria State,” Awel said in a statement seen by Dawn on Saturday.
She said the suspected case was first reported on 21st December 2023.
The minister cautioned citizens to take precautions to avoid contracting the disease.
“The ministry would also like to re-assure the South Sudanese and all other residents that with experience and available expertise in the country, this yellow fever outbreak will be contained.”
She urged all travellers to vaccinate against yellow fever to curb the spread of the disease.
“Travellers are urged to comply with this travel requirement to ensure that the risk of spread of yellow fever through international travel is minimized,” he said.
The Ministry of Health re-emphasizes its call to the public to cooperate with officials during the investigation and respond to an outbreak.
South Sudan has experienced several yellow fever outbreaks in past years.
The country’s worst yellow fever outbreak occurred in May 2003, when a total of 178 cases with 27 deaths were reported in the Imatong region.
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms include severe fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue
The disease is suspected to have been transmitted through the sylvatic route – through mosquito bites from the wild.
