[Yellow fever in Senegal from 1976 to 1980 (author's transl)]

Abstract

The isolation of a YF strain in Kedougou (eastern region) in December 1976 from Aedes gr. furcifer taylori lead to a mass vaccination campaign in Senegal. In 1977, 67 strains were isolated from different mosquitoes (essentially A. luteocephalus and A. gr. furcifer taylori). Among these strains, 3 were isolated from males and this very important phenomenon might explain the virus conservation during the dry season. In 1978, 55 strains were isolated from mosquitoes of the same species, but not from males, and five from monkeys (E. patas and C. aethiops). But no increase of morbidity or mortality was observed in humans. In December 1978, a YF outbreak occurred in the Gambia with 271 suspect cases and 63 deaths; 2 strains were isolated from A. aegypti. In 1979, the epidemic seemed to have disappeared. Up to now, one single strain has been isolated from mosquitoes. But danger remains, and 3 YF human cases with 2 deaths were observed in Sine-Saloum, among French unvaccinated tourists.