Yellow Fever has killed 172 Nigerians so far - WHO

The World Health Organization has disclosed that Yellow Fever outbreak has killed 172 Nigerians so far in 2020 since the counting began.

This was disclosed by WHO spokesman, Tarik Jasarevic to reporters in Geneva on Sunday, reported by AFP. He disclosed that the outbreak adds more challenges to Nigeria’s healthcare system already stretched by covid-19.

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A yellow fever outbreak in Nigeria has killed 172 people so far, the World Health Organization said Friday. The outbreak poses an extra challenge to the country's health system as Africa's most populous nation deals with the Covid-19 pandemichttps://t.co/FLDYg5jzuG pic.twitter.com/enwPPCta4V
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 4, 2020

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“As of November 24, the outbreak has been reported in five states in Nigeria: Delta, Enugu, Bauchi, Benue and Ebonyi,” Tarik Jasarevic told Newsmen on Friday.

“A total of 530 suspected cases have been reported, including 48 that have been confirmed by lab testing.

“A total of 172 deaths have been reported out of those 530 suspected cases,” he added.

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He also added that Nigeria is conducting sample tests in laboratories nationwide, however, Nigeria’s response might be limited due to the focus on Covid-19 pandemic by state resources.

The WHO said 16 of the 36 states in Nigeria have ramped up vaccination operations, and expects 6 more states to complete yellow fever vaccinations by the first quarter of 2021.

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What you should know

Nairametrics reported last month that Delta state recorded samples or yellow fever after a mysterious serious of deaths also linked to Lassa fever.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported to WHO a cluster of deaths in Ute Okpu community in Ika North-East local government area (LGA) of Delta State.
Additional cases were reported from 4 other wards of Ika North-East (Idumessah, Owa Alero, Owanta, and Umunede).
A preliminary report for Delta State on 5 November 2020, notified of 48 suspected cases of yellow fever (YF) with 30 deaths (CFR 62.5%).

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