WASHINGTON, Feb 25, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Health officials reported an
outbreak of yellow fever in Paraguay, with seven confirmed cases in San Pedro
and four as yet unconfirmed cases in San Lorenzo.
In addition, Africa Fighting Malaria -- a non-profit health advocacy group based
in South Africa and in Washington -- said the number of cases reported by
neighboring Brazilian health authorities has more than quadrupled during the
past two months, with 13 deaths reported.
Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Although a vaccine
exists, there is no cure for the disease that infects about 200,000 people
annually.
"As with malaria, the yellow fever outbreaks highlight the urgent need for
carefully controlled insecticide spraying programs," said Richard Tren, director
of Africa Fighting Malaria. "These programs should have been strengthened to
sustain progress.
"Decades of anti-insecticides pressure culminated in 1997 when the World Health
Assembly passed a resolution to reduce the use of insecticides in disease
control," added Tren. "The resurgence of yellow fever is an unfortunate
consequence of that resolution."
The World Health Organization said it has sent 4 million doses of vaccine to
Paraguay, along with an epidemiologist, virologist and other emergency
management experts.
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International