Experts are to carry out Yellow Fever tests in Zambia after the government complained of being listed as a low risk country despite having no reported cases of the disease there.
According to Zambia’s health minister Dr Joseph Kasonde, Zambia was listed as a low risk country for Yellow Fever due to the fact that it neighbours Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both of whom have reported cases of the disease.
Currently, due to Zambia’s low risk status, all those who visit the country are required to get a Yellow Fever vaccination before travelling. But Kasonde said he hoped the WHO team’s presence will lead to Zambia being declared a no risk country.
The process to show that Zambia is not at risk of Yellow Fever will involve getting blood samples from provinces bordering Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Right now there is a team from the WHO in Lusaka trying to help us do those tests. For the sake and purpose of this conference we are saying let us not review this matter from day to day, let us have a decision – a policy to look after us. Namely, we shall regard ourselves as low risk and carry out everything on that basis while at the same time the procedures and process to arrive at a no risk categorisation are going on.”
Dr Kasonde made the comments while launching a health guide for delegates due to attend the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s 20th General Assembly, which is being hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe respectively.