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. 2015 Jan-Mar;7(1):11-7.
doi: 10.4103/0974-777X.150884.

Risk assessment for yellow Fever in Western and north-Western provinces of zambia

Olusegun A Babaniyi  1 , Peter Mwaba  2 , David Mulenga  3 , Mwaka Monze  4 , Peter Songolo  5 , Mazyanga L Mazaba-Liwewe  6 , Idah Mweene-Ndumba  6 , Freddie Masaninga  7 , Elizabeth Chizema  8 , Messeret Eshetu-Shibeshi  9 , Costantine Malama  8 , Emmanuel Rudatsikira  10 , Seter Siziya  11
Affiliations

Risk assessment for yellow Fever in Western and north-Western provinces of zambia

Olusegun A Babaniyi et al. J Glob Infect Dis. 2015 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

Background: North-Western and Western provinces of Zambia were reclassified as low-risk areas for yellow fever (YF). However, the current potential for YF transmission in these areas is unclear.

Aims: To determine the current potential risk of YF infection.

Setting and design: A cross sectional study was conducted in North-Western and Western provinces of Zambia.

Materials and methods: Samples were tested for both YF virus-specific IgG and IgM antibodies by the ELISA and YF virus confirmation was done using Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test. The samples were also tested for IgG and IgM antibodies against other flaviviruses.

Results: Out of the 3625 respondents who participated in the survey, 46.7% were males and 9.4% were aged less than 5 years. Overall, 58.1% of the participants slept under an impregnated insecticide-treated net and 20.6% reported indoor residual spraying of insecticides. A total of 616 (17.0%) samples were presumptive YF positive. The prevalence for YF was 0.3% for long-term infection and 0.2% for recent YF infection. None of the YF confirmed cases had received YF vaccine. Prevalence rates for other flaviviruses were 149 (4.1%) for Dengue, 370 (10.2%) for West Nile and 217 (6.0%) for Zika.

Conclusion: There is evidence of past and recent infection of YF in both provinces. Hence, they are at a low risk for YF infection. Yellow fever vaccination should be included in the EPI program in the two provinces and strengthen surveillance with laboratory confirmation.

Keywords: Prevalence; Western and North-Western provinces; Zambia; yellow fever.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of households where participants were recruited
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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