EU earmarks 2 million euros for yellow fever outbreak in Sudan

Nov 22, 2005 (BRUSSELS) — The European Commission has decided to give 2 million euros (2.3 million US dollars) to contain yellow fever in the South Kordofan region of Sudan, said the commission on Tuesday.

This region is a “crossroads” with many population movements. If left unchecked, the epidemic could quickly spread to other parts of Sudan, said the commission, the executive body of the European Union, in a press release.

In recent weeks, there have been more than 400 cases of the mosquito-borne disease with 124 deaths reported so far.

“We know that yellow fever is an extremely dangerous viral infection with a high mortality rate. Aid agencies have an urgent need for financing to bring the situation under control,” said Louis Michel, EU commissioner for development and humanitarian aid.

The money will be channelled through experienced partners including the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

The fund will be used for a vaccination campaign, initially targeting 1.8 million people in the affected area, to treat those already affected and for vector control operations in the mosquito breeding areas, said the press release.

(Xinhua)