Uganda Declares End of Yellow Fever Outbreak

On 6th September, 2016 the Ag. Director General Health Services Prof. Anthony K. Mbonye, released a press statement declaring the end of the yellow fever outbreak which had begun in March 2016. On 24th March 2016, an alert of a suspected Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF) outbreak in Masaka district (Kaloddo village) was received by the Ministry of Health through the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC).

Three cases from a single family had presented to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital with high-grade fever that was non-responsive to anti-malarial treatment with haemorrhagic and acute neurological signs and symptoms (convulsions and unconsciousness).

A rapid response team (RRT) from MoH head- quarters was deployed immediately to work with Masaka District Health Office to further investigate and respond to the suspected outbreak. The Masaka district task force was activated, a treatment centre set up at Masaka Region- al Referral Hospital, active community case finding conducted and more samples collected and referred to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for laboratory testing.

On 7th April 2016, Yellow Fever was confirmed. Intensified surveillance also confirmed Yellow Fever in Rukungiri and Kalangala districts on 13th April 2016 and 4th May 2016 respectively. Subsequently, from 24th March to 4th May 2016, 65 suspected Yellow Fever cases were reported from districts in the greater Masaka region, out of which 7 cases were confirmed. These were from Masaka (5), Rukungiri (1) and Kalangala (1).

Three of the confirmed cases died giving a case fatality rate of 4.6%. With support from World Health Organization (WHO), CDC, Yellow Fever Vaccination in the three affected districts. Between May-June 2016. A total of 627,706 people (≥6months) were vaccinated; 273,447 in Masaka, 304,605 in Rukungiri district and 49,654 in Kalangala.

Overall, a vaccination coverage of 94% (above the WHO recommended 90% coverage) was achieved in the 3 districts; Masaka-91%, Rukungiri-97% and Kalangala-95% . There has been no evidence of subsequent active Yellow Fever since then.