South Sudan Confirms Yellow Fever Death in Morobo County

The National Public Health Institute (NPHI) of South Sudan has confirmed a yellow fever infection in Morobo County, Central Equatoria State, following the death of a 48-year-old man. According to NPHI Acting Executive Director Dr. Ader Macar Achiek, the patient was a farmer from Okaba village in Gulumbi Payam who had recently traveled to Ariwara in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The patient developed symptoms on October 24, including fever, headache, fatigue, chest pain, and joint pain. Three days later, he experienced nose bleeding, and on October 29, he developed a generalized body rash while receiving treatment at an isolation unit. Initially, two blood samples tested negative for Ebola, but further laboratory testing using Real Time – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed the yellow fever virus.

The patient later died, prompting the NPHI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and other health partners, to activate emergency response measures. These measures aim to investigate the case and contain possible transmission. A multidisciplinary team has been dispatched to Morobo to conduct active case searches, trace contacts, and review health facility records.

Authorities are strengthening cross-border surveillance and coordination with health officials in neighboring areas of the DRC. The team will also collect mosquito samples to establish whether the virus is circulating among mosquito populations and assess community knowledge and practices. This will guide possible targeted vaccination campaigns to prevent further transmission of the disease.

Yellow fever is transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes and can cause severe cases, including jaundice, dark urine, and unusual bleeding. Dr. Achiek urged residents of Morobo County and the wider public to remain vigilant and take preventive measures against mosquito bites, such as using mosquito nets and eliminating breeding sites.

The public is advised to report any individuals presenting with fever, yellowing of the eyes (jaundice), passing of tea-colored/dark urine, or unusual bleeding to the nearest health facility immediately. Suspected cases can also be reported through the national toll-free health hotline 6666.

Key public health measures are being implemented to control the outbreak, including active case searches, contact tracing, and community education on preventive measures.

Key points

• The National Public Health Institute confirmed a yellow fever infection in Morobo County, Central Equatoria State, following the death of a 48-year-old man.
• A multidisciplinary team has been dispatched to Morobo to investigate the case and contain possible transmission.
• Authorities are urging residents to take preventive measures against mosquito bites and report suspected cases through health facilities or the national toll-free hotline.