The ministry said yellow fever is contracted through mosquito bites and the mortality rate of the disease is up to 50 per cent. There isn’t any medication to treat the disease, the ministry noted, adding that the best preventive measure is vaccination. Although Việt Nam hasn’t recorded any yellow fever cases, so far, it trades with and sends workers to Angola and many other African and Latin American countries that have reported an outbreak of yellow fever.
Yellow fever cases have increased in several African countries in the first four months of the year. Congo recorded 453 cases, including 45 deaths, and Uganda reported 30 cases, including 7 deaths. Angola, in particular, has reported 2,149 cases, including 277 deaths.
China has also recorded 11 cases of yellow fever: all workers returning to China from Angola.
The MoH recommends that people intending to visit areas where case of yellow fever have been reported, should get vaccinated at least 10 days prior to departure. While staying in the foreign country, anti-mosquito measures suggested by the host nations must be followed. People should also pay particular attention to their health for at least seven days after returning from the affected countries and see a doctor if they show any symptoms of the disease, the MoH said.
According to the World Health Organisation, there are an estimated 84,000-170,000 cases and up to 60,000 yellow fever deaths per year. The virus is endemic in the tropical areas of Africa and Latin America, with a combined population of over 900 million.
