Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Yellow fever outbreak in Obomeng, Ghana-December, 2013

3^rd International Congress on Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases

August 04-06, 2015 Valencia, Spain

Joseph K L Opare1,2, E Afari1, F Wurapa2, C Ohuabunwo3, S Sackey1, G Kye-Duodu1 and D Ameme1

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Bacteriol Parasitol

Abstract:

Background: Yellow fever (YF) is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Annually, 2-million
cases with 30 000 deaths occur worldwide. On 12th December, 2013, the Ghana Eastern Regional Health Management Team
was notified of a suspected YF outbreak in Obomeng village, KwahuAfram Plain South District (KAPSD). We investigated to
verify the diagnosis, identify risk factors and recommend control measures.
Methods: We conducted active case-search and semi-structured interviews with health workers and community-members. A
suspected YF-patient was any person with acute onset of fever followed by jaundice within two weeks from 1st- 22nd December,
2013 in Obomeng village. We reviewed medical records and collected blood samples from the index-case and seven contacts
for laboratory diagnosis. Environmental assessment was conducted to identify mosquito breeding places. We determined
the house index (HI), i.e., the percentage of houses positive for larvae, the container index (CI)-percentage of water-holding
containers positive for larvae and Breteaux index (BI) indicating the number of positive containers per 100 houses. BI, HI and
CI exceeding 50, 35 and 20 respectively indicate a high risk of Aedes-transmitted yellow fever.
Results: The index-case, a 5-year old male presented with abdominal pain, jaundice and dark-brown urine. He did not attend
school and frequently accompanied his parents to the farm near a monkey-forest. These monkeys occasionally visit their
homes. He was vaccinated against YF and YF coverage in the village was 68%. BI, HI and CI exceeded 50, 35 and 20 respectively.
Conclusions: A vaccinated 5-year old male was infected with YF likely contracted from infected forest-monkeys in an Eastern-
Ghana village. Mass insecticide spraying, bed-net distribution and mop-up YF vaccination were conducted.