Angola: over 30 suspected cases of yellow fever in September

(AGI) - Luanda, Oct 10 - Angola recorded more "probable cases" of yellow fever in September, said Saturday last, 8, the weekly report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) about the evolution of the epidemic in the country and says be need for laboratory confirmation of symptoms. According to the document, between December 5 and 29 September there were reports that a total of 4,188 suspected cases of yellow fever in Angola, with 373 deaths (8.9% mortality rate). However, remember that only 884 suspected cases have been confirmed in the laboratory, as were deaths that were confirmed 121 in this period. The UN agency says that during September the authorities counted 32 more suspected cases - far below the more than 100 per week were recorded for about four months ago - but that will have to be analysed by the Angolan authorities, in particular the history vaccination against the disease, which can cause similar symptoms. All data confirm a clear regression of the epidemic and the last officially confirmed case, after laboratory tests, was registered on 23 June. Since then, all suspected cases, in which only a portion was analysed laboratory, were not confirmed. Until 6 October, the international authorities had already approved the distribution of 20 million doses of vaccine against yellow fever in Angola, used in mass vaccination campaigns of the population that began last February. The epidemic spread to the neighbour Democratic Republic of Congo, with 2,870 suspected cases in all 26 provinces of the country, between 1 January and 5 October. In total, the WHO states that were laboratory confirmed, in this period, 76 cases, of which at least 57 proven imported from Angola. The epidemic has killed 120 people - suspected cases - in DR Congo, according to the WHO, with the authorities of both countries have on-going vaccination campaigns. (AGI) .