A queue for vaccination against yellow fever
Loading
26th November, 2011
Yellow Fever: Ghosts In Your Urban Back Yard
Yellow fever is in town. The health authorities are on the top of it. The outbreak is miniscule. It’s confined. All measures have been taken.
Vaccination...Mosquito-nets...Mosquito kill...Infanticide on unborn mosquitoes... Public awareness... You name it. And, it is in the bag!
A TOPICAL ISSUE
Therefore, on the surface of things, one can say that there is nothing more to add, and nothing to take away. But, that would be a myopic view.
We are in the business of ‘infotainment’: to inform and to entertain. We must be alert and tackle issues which are topical. And, in Ghana of late, yellow fever has most certainly become a topical health issue. It may be unwelcome. But, that’s a different matter.
May 24, 2007, was the last time we wrote about yellow fever. Then, the sub-title was “Ghosts in Arrivals Halls”. Now, urban is the key word. We’ll begin with the travel scenario.
DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN QUARANTINE
Dr. Otoh Addy could not believe it! He, director of medical services, had to show cause why he should not be flung into quarantine. He was not alone. Potentially, there were seven others, in his delegation to a health summit. Why might they be quarantined? Because they might not have valid certificates of yellow fever vaccination.
Yellow fever? In 2011? At first Dr. Addy was bemused. But, he swiftly became indignant. Last century, yellow fever was the red flag to bulls in Port Health Authorities. Since when has its ghost returned to haunt arrivals halls? The man was saying. He spoke neither Greek, nor in whispers.
THE STENCH OF FLAMING FLESH
His companions escaped. While inside the airport jail, Dr. Addy became drenched. Observers were not sure. Was it from just sweat? Or, sweat mixed with tears? He was thinking of his late mom. The old lady used to say: “Oto, stop playing with fire! You’ll fall into it. You’ll get roasted. And, the stench of your flaming flesh will assail in my nostrils!”
Years later, Oto specialized in Public Health. He understood the depth of his mom’s wisdom: “If you won’t look after yourself...If you become careless, you’ll fall into fire which you can see...Spare me! Your flesh is your look out. Roast it, if you must. But, I’ll protect my nostrils. I’ll prevent the stench!”
WHAT IS YELLOW FEVER?
Yellow fever is a viral disease. It is transmitted to us through mosquito bite. Its severity varies. It ranges from ’flu-like fever, through jaundice, to death. The liver takes the hardest hit. About 20 per cent of patients die. Children have the worst outlook. Ditto unvaccinated folks, especially, those returning home.
THE MOSQUITO PROTOCOL
Mosquitoes are the link. The species in the protocol is called Aedes aegypti. It has been suppressed or eliminated. With that, urban yellow fever has virtually disappeared since the 1900s. But, every now and then, outbreaks re-emerge. [That sounds like a bell tolling for us.]
TREATMENT?
Specific treatment? None! Supportive care. That’s all there is. That’s all you’ll get. Vaccination re-enters the fray. It offers safe, effective protection.
THE VACCINE: ALL THINGS OFFICIAL
For the sake of the health of nations, yellow fever vaccine is more jealously guarded than the Holy Grail. Manufacturers must be officially approved — by WHO. It is injected only at official centres. There are orders as to how it must be stored, and, made up. If unused, it must be thrown away. Not tomorrow... Within one hour.
An official international certificate is filled. It is signed – officially, by a physician. If incompletely or inaccurately filled, the certificate is invalid. Formal validation requires the official stamp of the official centre where official vaccine is given. And, “go–come, go-come” can become a cross!
MEN, NOT ELEPHANTS
Validated certificates become effective after 10 days. They remain valid for the next 10 years. This is at once a blessing and a curse. Ask Dr. Addy. We are men, not elephants. Our memories are short.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND HEALTH:
When you plan a trip to another country, do two things. Inform yourself about their hazards there. Take preventive measures to reduce the risks of “adverse health consequences.” [Why WHO avoids calling fever fever, I don’t know.] “Adverse health consequences” is WHO-speak for disease.
RESPONSIBILITY
The responsibility lies where it belongs: on you. Advice come from doctors, nurses and ministries of health. Travel agents, too. But, you have the responsibility to seek out. Study the risks, and, take all precautions for your trip…
NO CONDITION IS PERMANENT
WHO approved International Health Regulations in 2005. Two years later, the rules were revised. Yellow fever is now elevated beyond the expression “infected areas”. Instead, we have an era where all is change and flux.
New WHO-speak talks of “where a risk of yellow fever transmission is present”. It is their decision. They will pin this badge on a country when two conditions are met. Yellow fever can be found in humans, mosquitoes or monkeys. Or, it has been reported currently. That sounds like us.
PURPOSES OF VACCINATION: CHANGING REQUIREMENTS
Yellow fever vaccination is for two reasons. One is to protect you, the individual. You may have become exposed during your travels. Or, during an outbreak. Remember. It is fatal in 20% of the unvaccinated.
The other reason is the health of nations: to prevent spread across borders by protecting countries from importing the virus. Mandatory requirements are established by each country, according to International Health Regulations. But, that is where cozy uniformity ends. Beyond that, countries make their own rules. Worse than that, countries’ rules can change, at any time, and, change without warning. This explains the predicament of Dr. Addy, and others.
VACCINATION ON THE SPOT!
If you fail to secure valid certificates, you may be threatened with re-vaccination on the spot. These days, international travel is “abesewie”. [Akan for chewing of cola nuts.]
It is a commuting between Tuobodom and Kumasi. It is enjoyed by not only ministers, but also by taxi drivers, pupil teachers, farmers of cassava and dealers in ‘folks’ procured from China. The ghost of yellow fever is back in arrivals halls. This ghost has teeth.
URBAN OUTBREAK
It took an unwelcome ghost of an urban outbreak to remind us about yellow fever. The outbreak is small. It is confined. Help the health authorities remain on the top of it. There is no cure for yellow fever.
Prevention is the only way to go. Public awareness...Vaccination...War on mosquitoes: nets, sprays, infanticide... We’ve got to see this thing through.
Vaccination...Mosquito-nets...Mosquito kill...Infanticide on unborn mosquitoes... Public awareness... You name it. And, it is in the bag!
A TOPICAL ISSUE
Therefore, on the surface of things, one can say that there is nothing more to add, and nothing to take away. But, that would be a myopic view.
We are in the business of ‘infotainment’: to inform and to entertain. We must be alert and tackle issues which are topical. And, in Ghana of late, yellow fever has most certainly become a topical health issue. It may be unwelcome. But, that’s a different matter.
May 24, 2007, was the last time we wrote about yellow fever. Then, the sub-title was “Ghosts in Arrivals Halls”. Now, urban is the key word. We’ll begin with the travel scenario.
DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN QUARANTINE
Dr. Otoh Addy could not believe it! He, director of medical services, had to show cause why he should not be flung into quarantine. He was not alone. Potentially, there were seven others, in his delegation to a health summit. Why might they be quarantined? Because they might not have valid certificates of yellow fever vaccination.
Yellow fever? In 2011? At first Dr. Addy was bemused. But, he swiftly became indignant. Last century, yellow fever was the red flag to bulls in Port Health Authorities. Since when has its ghost returned to haunt arrivals halls? The man was saying. He spoke neither Greek, nor in whispers.
THE STENCH OF FLAMING FLESH
His companions escaped. While inside the airport jail, Dr. Addy became drenched. Observers were not sure. Was it from just sweat? Or, sweat mixed with tears? He was thinking of his late mom. The old lady used to say: “Oto, stop playing with fire! You’ll fall into it. You’ll get roasted. And, the stench of your flaming flesh will assail in my nostrils!”
Years later, Oto specialized in Public Health. He understood the depth of his mom’s wisdom: “If you won’t look after yourself...If you become careless, you’ll fall into fire which you can see...Spare me! Your flesh is your look out. Roast it, if you must. But, I’ll protect my nostrils. I’ll prevent the stench!”
WHAT IS YELLOW FEVER?
Yellow fever is a viral disease. It is transmitted to us through mosquito bite. Its severity varies. It ranges from ’flu-like fever, through jaundice, to death. The liver takes the hardest hit. About 20 per cent of patients die. Children have the worst outlook. Ditto unvaccinated folks, especially, those returning home.
THE MOSQUITO PROTOCOL
Mosquitoes are the link. The species in the protocol is called Aedes aegypti. It has been suppressed or eliminated. With that, urban yellow fever has virtually disappeared since the 1900s. But, every now and then, outbreaks re-emerge. [That sounds like a bell tolling for us.]
TREATMENT?
Specific treatment? None! Supportive care. That’s all there is. That’s all you’ll get. Vaccination re-enters the fray. It offers safe, effective protection.
THE VACCINE: ALL THINGS OFFICIAL
For the sake of the health of nations, yellow fever vaccine is more jealously guarded than the Holy Grail. Manufacturers must be officially approved — by WHO. It is injected only at official centres. There are orders as to how it must be stored, and, made up. If unused, it must be thrown away. Not tomorrow... Within one hour.
An official international certificate is filled. It is signed – officially, by a physician. If incompletely or inaccurately filled, the certificate is invalid. Formal validation requires the official stamp of the official centre where official vaccine is given. And, “go–come, go-come” can become a cross!
MEN, NOT ELEPHANTS
Validated certificates become effective after 10 days. They remain valid for the next 10 years. This is at once a blessing and a curse. Ask Dr. Addy. We are men, not elephants. Our memories are short.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND HEALTH:
When you plan a trip to another country, do two things. Inform yourself about their hazards there. Take preventive measures to reduce the risks of “adverse health consequences.” [Why WHO avoids calling fever fever, I don’t know.] “Adverse health consequences” is WHO-speak for disease.
RESPONSIBILITY
The responsibility lies where it belongs: on you. Advice come from doctors, nurses and ministries of health. Travel agents, too. But, you have the responsibility to seek out. Study the risks, and, take all precautions for your trip…
NO CONDITION IS PERMANENT
WHO approved International Health Regulations in 2005. Two years later, the rules were revised. Yellow fever is now elevated beyond the expression “infected areas”. Instead, we have an era where all is change and flux.
New WHO-speak talks of “where a risk of yellow fever transmission is present”. It is their decision. They will pin this badge on a country when two conditions are met. Yellow fever can be found in humans, mosquitoes or monkeys. Or, it has been reported currently. That sounds like us.
PURPOSES OF VACCINATION: CHANGING REQUIREMENTS
Yellow fever vaccination is for two reasons. One is to protect you, the individual. You may have become exposed during your travels. Or, during an outbreak. Remember. It is fatal in 20% of the unvaccinated.
The other reason is the health of nations: to prevent spread across borders by protecting countries from importing the virus. Mandatory requirements are established by each country, according to International Health Regulations. But, that is where cozy uniformity ends. Beyond that, countries make their own rules. Worse than that, countries’ rules can change, at any time, and, change without warning. This explains the predicament of Dr. Addy, and others.
VACCINATION ON THE SPOT!
If you fail to secure valid certificates, you may be threatened with re-vaccination on the spot. These days, international travel is “abesewie”. [Akan for chewing of cola nuts.]
It is a commuting between Tuobodom and Kumasi. It is enjoyed by not only ministers, but also by taxi drivers, pupil teachers, farmers of cassava and dealers in ‘folks’ procured from China. The ghost of yellow fever is back in arrivals halls. This ghost has teeth.
URBAN OUTBREAK
It took an unwelcome ghost of an urban outbreak to remind us about yellow fever. The outbreak is small. It is confined. Help the health authorities remain on the top of it. There is no cure for yellow fever.
Prevention is the only way to go. Public awareness...Vaccination...War on mosquitoes: nets, sprays, infanticide... We’ve got to see this thing through.
Popular stories from Columnists
