Journal of Preventive Medicine & Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Introduction: Guinea is among a group of endemic countries at high risk of yellow fever outbreaks. From 2000 to 2019, the country recorded eight yellow fever epidemics, affecting 1,143 people and resulting in 332 deaths. On January 14, 2020, the National Health Security Agency was alerted by the Conakry Viral Hem orrhagic Fever Laboratory to four positive IgM cases of yellow fever, including three cases in Koundara and one in Kouroussa. Following this alert, an investigation was launched.

Equipment and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Koundara and Kour oussa health districts from January 16 to 20, 2021. All confirmed cases (confirmed by laboratory or clinical examination) were included. Data on clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, as well as vaccination status, were analyzed using Epi Info 7.2. Proportions were calculated.

Results: A total of 46 suspected cases of yellow fever were reported, including 3 probable cases and 14 deaths. Six cases of yellow fever were identified through active case finding in health facilities (including one probable case and two suspected cases) and in the community (3 suspected cases). In Koundara, among the larval breeding sites, 5 out of 13 contained positive Aedes mosquito larvae in the urban commune; 3 out of 56 in Guingan; 1 out of 7 in Kamaby ; and 5 out of 17 in Sareboido. Vaccination coverage in the surveyed localities of Koundara and Kouroussa ranged from 1% to 42%. In contrast, routine vaccination coverage ranged from 41% to 88%.

Conclusion: Our investigation shows that the potential existence of a yellow fever epidemic in the surveyed areas is of an intermediate type and is conditioned by a rural cycle. Vaccination coverage in the survey was 20%, with Recipient and Breteau indices ≥ 20 in Koundara and 42% in Kouroussa, and larval indices were zero.