Yellow Fever Is The Next Global Health Emergency; Lack Of Vaccines Can Start Crisis

An outbreak of yellow fever could soon be the next global health emergency, according to experts. Vaccine supply shortages could spark a health security crisis.

Aside from a major flare up in Angola, two smaller outbreaks occurred in Congo and Uganda. While presumed under control, researchers are warning countries to stay vigilant, according to Daily Mail.

The ongoing and potential future spread of yellow fever, along with limited vaccine supply should compel the World Health Organization (WHO) to be prepared for future health emergencies, according to Professor Daniel Lucey and Professor Lawrence Gostin from the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown. The two professors explain that the WHO should start the mobilization of funds, coordination of an international response and the spearheading of a surge in vaccine protection.

Published in JAMA Viewpoint, the professors explain in their editorial that experts should consider a more efficient way to manage potential public health emergencies. They also suggest establishing a standing emergency committee that would regularly convene with the director-general for emerging infectious disease threats.

Yellow fever can spread quickly in towns as the same mosquitos that carry the Zika virus transmit the disease. Compared to other mosquito-borne viruses, yellow fever is more difficult to detect due to the lack of symptoms.

Angola has reported 2,267 suspected cases of yellow fever where 696 have been confirmed. About 293 cases have resulted in death.

Congo, on the other hand, has reported 41 confirmed cases of yellow fever, with nearly all of them imported from Angola. Uganda, on the other hand, has 7 confirmed cases.

By the end of April, the Democratic Republic of the Congo government declared an outbreak of yellow fever, according to IB Times. Confirmed cases have also been reported in Kenya, Peru and China.

Nearly the entire population of Luanda has been vaccinated against yellow fever. Unfortunately, the slow vaccination campaign has allowed the virus to spread to other provinces.

Luanda has used up the world's entire emergency stockpile for yellow fever vaccine. Although usually sufficient, the vaccine supply may become stretched if more outbreaks occur in the coming months.