Yellow fever - WHO African Region
- Pays / zones concernés
- WHO African Region
- Premier avis
- 2026-11-06
- Dernier avis
- 2026-11-06
- Nombre d’avis
- 1
Résumé officiel (texte original)
Yellow fever transmission continues in the WHO African Region, with recent outbreak activity concentrated in parts of West Africa. Between 1 January and 12 October 2026, 67 confirmed cases, including 18 deaths, were recorded in nine countries in the Region: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo. The most recent outbreak activity has been concentrated in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Liberia, including in areas close to international borders.
Occupational and environmental exposures, including work in or near forested areas, mining activities, and other outdoor occupations, are important risk factors for yellow fever infection. Frequent cross-border population movement, the presence of competent mosquito vectors, and uneven vaccination coverage increase the risk of further transmission and geographic spread.
Countries in the Region, supported by WHO and partners, are implementing response activities including enhanced surveillance and case investigation, laboratory testing, active case finding, risk communication and community engagement, and vaccination activities in affected and at-risk areas.
On 27 October 2026, WHO assessed the overall public health risk associated with the current yellow fever situation as moderate at the regional level. The global risk remains low.
Évaluation du risque par l’OMS (texte original)
On 27 October 2026, WHO assessed the overall risk associated with the current yellow fever situation as moderate in the WHO African Region, due to the likelihood of continued transmission, the potential for geographical and cross-border spread, existing immunity gaps and operational constraints affecting outbreak control. The global risk remains low.
Continued transmission and additional human cases in the African Region are considered likely. Several affected districts have previously identified immunity gaps, including areas where preventive vaccination has not been implemented or where population immunity remains insufficient despite previous vaccination activities. Unvaccinated populations are at highest risk, particularly rural and forest-edge communities, mobile and cross-border populations and people who work in forested areas, agriculture or mining.
The occurrence of yellow fever activity in areas close to international borders increases the potential for further geographical and cross-border spread. Frequent cross-border travel and movement linked to trade, farming, livestock and mining could contribute to spread between affected and neighbouring countries. Introduction of the virus into densely populated urban or peri-urban areas where the Aedes aegypti mosquito is established and population immunity is low could result in larger outbreaks and place additional pressure on response capacities.
The Region has important capacities for yellow fever prevention and response, including established surveillance systems, a regional laboratory network, routine and reactive vaccination mechanisms, outbreak-response experience, access to the international emergency vaccine stockpile and established response and cross-border coordination mechanisms. However, persistent immunity gaps, surveillance and laboratory challenges, delays in specimen referral and confirmation, insecurity, access constraints, limited resources and competing public health emergencies can affect timely detection, investigation and control.
Historique des avis
- · 2026-DON624
Yellow fever - WHO African Region
Résumé officiel (texte original)
Yellow fever transmission continues in the WHO African Region, with recent outbreak activity concentrated in parts of West Africa. Between 1 January and 12 October 2026, 67 confirmed cases, including 18 deaths, were recorded in nine countries in the Region: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo. The most recent outbreak activity has been concentrated in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Liberia, including in areas close to international borders.
Occupational and environmental exposures, including work in or near forested areas, mining activities, and other outdoor occupations, are important risk factors for yellow fever infection. Frequent cross-border population movement, the presence of competent mosquito vectors, and uneven vaccination coverage increase the risk of further transmission and geographic spread.
Countries in the Region, supported by WHO and partners, are implementing response activities including enhanced surveillance and case investigation, laboratory testing, active case finding, risk communication and community engagement, and vaccination activities in affected and at-risk areas.
On 27 October 2026, WHO assessed the overall public health risk associated with the current yellow fever situation as moderate at the regional level. The global risk remains low.
