Exploring the national burden and challenges in the fight against yellow fever in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a review.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is facing a public health emergency due to numerous infectious diseases, predominately yellow fever. Since 2015, numerous outbreaks of the illness have occurred in the country which resulted in detrimental impacts on the population. As of February 2024, the DR Congo has reported over 1,200 suspected yellow fever cases with an 11% case fatality rate. This represents a 22% increase compared to 2021 when 203 confirmed cases were reported with a 9% fatality rate. Although there is no specific medication to treat yellow fever, vaccination is proven to be the most effective method of prevention. Despite national and international efforts to combat the disease through vaccination campaigns, yellow fever continues to pose a significant threat. This is because vaccination efforts are limited by the inadequate infrastructure, poverty, poor sanitation and the presence of rebel groups in the DR Congo. Early diagnosis, the use of mosquito nets and insecticides, as well as raising awareness can furthermore aid in limiting transmission. This review explores the prevalence, diagnosis and prevention methods of yellow fever in the DR Congo, as well as the numerous obstacles faced by the country to eliminate it.