WHO declares yellow fever outbreak in South Sudan

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an outbreak of yellow fever in the southern part of South Sudan, according to foreign media.

The UN health agency said in a statement that two cases were identified in Kajo-Keji, a region bordering Uganda, where an outbreak of the viral hemorrhagic disease was detected early this year.

The risk of ongoing and further transmission of yellow fever is a concern in South Sudan due to the spontaneous return of displaced persons from Uganda, gaps in surveillance, and weaknesses in health services, the WHO warns.

According to the WHO, about 200,000 people contract the disease each year, which claims nearly 30,000 lives.