Yellow Fever in Uganda

Although Uganda is named as a “Yellow Fever” country there has been no confirmed case reported there for a number of years. Nevertheless mosquitoes that transmit the disease are definitely present and with increased travel in the region Uganda remains a country where the danger of infection is real. This is the reason why Uganda authorities have decided on a mass vaccination of some 2.5 million people in response to an outbreak of an as yet undiagnosed fever occurring in northern villages, which has so far affected more than 200 people and has killed 45. The presumptive diagnosis based on clinical signs is Yellow Fever although newspaper reports have mentioned plague or unspecified poisoning as possibilities. The Uganda Department of Health has decided to take no chances as only one case could result in widespread infection.

A certificate of vaccination from travellers from non-Yellow Fever listed countries is not required routinely for entry into Uganda but in the presence of an outbreak rules may change. In any case vaccination is strongly recommended for all visitors for self-protection. A certificate of vaccination is required by Australian quarantine authorities if you have spent the last six nights in a Yellow Fever listed country such as Uganda.