Yellow fever cases in Asia: primed for an epidemic

• Published in: International journal of infectious diseases Vol. 48; no. C; pp. 98 - 103
• Main Authors: Wasserman, Sean, Tambyah, Paul Anantharajah, Lim, Poh Lian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2016; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aedes - virology; Aedes aegypti; Animals; Arboviruses; Asia - epidemiology; Disease Outbreaks; Emerging infectious diseases; Epidemics; Flaviviruses; Humans; Infectious Disease; Insect Vectors - virology; Pulmonary/Respiratory; Yellow fever; Yellow Fever - epidemiology; Yellow Fever - prevention & control; Arboviruses; Aedes aegypti; Emerging infectious diseases; Yellow fever; Flaviviruses
• ISSN: 1201-9712; 1878-3511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.04.025

Highlights • A large yellow fever epidemic is underway in Angola, from where infected travellers are arriving in China, representing the first ever reported cases in Asia. • There is an abundance of the urban yellow fever vector, Aedes aegypti , in the Asia-Pacific region, raising the possibility of local yellow fever transmission, particularly as the period of peak dengue activity approaches. • The current conditions of a large Chinese expatriate community in Angola, the high volume of air travel from Angola to Asia, a favourable ecology for yellow fever transmission, and a large unimmunized population together represent a global health threat. • Outbreak preparedness and planning needs to be prioritized, and must include enhanced surveillance, vaccination of travellers, and stockpiling of additional emergency vaccine.