One of the requirements to enter the Congo, beyond having a visa, and blind courage or a sense of adventure, is proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination. I always thought it was a joke since western countries do not ask for it or require. But I guess it's not a problem in Congo for that reason. Congo is not among the 13 most at-risk countries in Africa
Yellow fever vaccine push amid shortages, resurgence.
DAKAR, 23 November 2009 (IRIN) - The world’s first multi-country yellow fever vaccination campaign began on 23 November, with 12 million people targeted across Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The push comes as the killer mosquito-borne disease is resurging in some sub-Saharan African countries and vaccine stocks are running low.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says 160 million Africans are at risk if further funding is not secured, as the current vaccine stockpile is expected to run out in 2010.
The three countries are the latest of the 13 most at-risk– Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo – to carry out preventive campaigns. Global health partnership GAVI Alliance has committed funding for campaigns in the 13 countries.