Burundi taking measures to counter yellow fever: official

Following reports of yellow fever cases in the region, the Burundian government has taken measures to prevent the disease from entering Burundi, health authorities said here on Wednesday.

"After hearing reports of yellow fever cases in the region notably in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Angola, Tanzania and Uganda, we took strong measures to prevent yellow fever from entering Burundi," said Thaddee Ndikumana, spokesman of the Burundi's health and AIDS control ministry.

According to him, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning in the region, urging countries to take measures to avoid the propagation of the "deadly" disease.

"It is in this framework that the health ministry wrote a letter to the home affairs and security ministries asking them to check at all entry points on borders whether all travelers from the region entering or leaving Burundi have certificates testifying that they were immunized against yellow fever."

He added that travel agencies were informed that they have to check whether travelers have yellow fever certificates before issuing passengers' tickets to enter Burundi.

"Those who will be given tickets without having yellow fever certificates will be returned to their countries and the agency that will have issued the tickets will be responsible for whatever will happen," said the minister.

He indicated that Burundians and foreigners living in Burundi who plan to travel will have to be immunized against yellow fever 10 days before the travel date. Enditem