WHO warns more than 160 million people are at risk of yellow fever in Nigeria

World Health Organization (WHO) recently stated in a report that re are nearly 160 million individuals at risk of 'yellow fever' in Nigeria, which has a population of over 200 million. Notably, this makes approximately 25% of all Africans at risk of disease in continent. According to report from WHO, Nigeria, which has some of most densely populated cities in world, is susceptible to both urban and sylvatic (jungle) exposure to illness. It is to mention that yellow fever is basically a virus which is spre by infected mosquitoes. 

As per WHO reports, “Sylvatic exposure is transmission of yellow fever from mosquitos that have bitten animals and non-human primates.” se s of transmission are particularly dangerous for agricultural and mining workers. 

Medical Officer for World Health Organization Nigeria, Dr. Anne Eudes Jean Baptiste described, “Yellow fever is dangerous because a small percentage of patients will go through a more toxic phase of disease. By n y will experience fever, and have system failure, mainly in kidney and liver.” Baptiste ded that due to disease, bleeding from mouth, nose, as well as eyes may occur, and within 7 to 10 days, half of patients will lose ir lives. 

Nigeria yellow fever

Nearly after 15 years in 2017, yellow fever me a comeback in Nigeria, WHO stated.  cyclical nature of sylvatic transmission and shortfalls in illness diagnosis rar than a lack of virus transmission are to blame for this. Furr, WHO claimed in report that currently, a better understanding of disease's distribution in humans is possible because of improved surveillance and laboratory testing. 

Meanwhile, Nigeria Center for Disease Control's Director General, Dr. Ifedayo M. O etifa said that y have strengned surveillance considerably. “We have reference laboratories in country that have been strengned, and are being supported and assessed to make sure y are meeting all performance parameters in terms of sample collection and referral to our reference labs in Abuja.” 

Director-General furr informed that y have distributed almost 66 million doses in 2020 and 2021 to prevent individuals from yellow fever outbreaks despite ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This accomplishment has been me possible through routine immunisation as well as mass vaccination drives that proactively target vulnerable populations and detect demographic gaps, he said. 

More about yellow fever

Yellow fever is a viral infection carried by a specific kind of mosquito. According to a Mayo Clinic report, patients won't exhibit any symptoms or indicators for first three to six days after contracting yellow fever which is considered to be incubation phase. Following this, infection goes through an acute phase and, in rare situations, a potentially fatal toxic phase. 

Yellow fever can result in a fever, heache, nausea, and vomiting in moderate instances. However, yellow fever can worsen and le to bleeding as well as issues with heart, liver, and kidneys. Yellow fever has not any kind of specific treatment. However, being vaccinated against yellow fever before visiting a region where virus is known to occur can shield people from contracting illness. 

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