GENEVA, Switzerland / AfricaWire.IO / – Yellow fever has killed 18 people across nine African countries this year, the World Health Organization said, warning that outbreaks are continuing. A total of 67 confirmed cases were recorded between January 1 and October 12, 2026. The cases were reported in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo. WHO rated the risk as moderate regionally and low worldwide.
Côte d’Ivoire accounts for nearly half of all cases, with 30 infections and 10 deaths reported as of September 23. Most of its cases were in Bounkani district, which recorded 18. Burkina Faso has confirmed 15 cases and 3 deaths, and Cameroon 9 cases and 1 death. Ghana reported 4 cases, of which 3 were fatal, as of September 2. Burkina Faso’s case fatality rate stands at 20%, compared with 33% in Côte d’Ivoire.
Nigeria recorded 4 cases, including 1 death, while the Central African Republic confirmed 2 cases. Guinea, Liberia and Togo each reported a single case. Overall, about 27% of confirmed patients have died. Recent outbreak activity has centered on Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Liberia, including border communities, WHO said in its latest Disease Outbreak News report, published on November 6.
Mosquitoes and mobility drive risk
Cross-border movement, the presence of mosquitoes able to transmit the virus and varying vaccination coverage are among the main factors increasing the risk of further spread, WHO said. Trade, farming, livestock herding and mining keep people moving across borders. Outdoor work and activities in forests also expose people to infected mosquitoes. Health officials are concerned about the virus reaching towns where Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are common, the species that also spreads dengue.
WHO assessed the risk in the African Region as moderate on October 27, pointing to likely continued transmission, the potential for geographic spread, immunity gaps and operational constraints. The global risk was assessed as low. Some affected areas have immunity gaps where preventive vaccination was never carried out. Earlier this year, six countries in the Americas also reported yellow fever, with 79 infections by late May and Colombia the most affected.
Vaccination campaigns expand
A single dose of the yellow fever vaccine gives lifelong protection, according to WHO. Countries are running preventive and reactive vaccination campaigns in affected and high-risk areas, supported by an international emergency vaccine stockpile. Routine coverage in Africa averaged 65% in 2024. Reactive campaigns reached about 491,000 people in Côte d’Ivoire and more than 400,000 in Cameroon. The campaigns form part of WHO’s strategy to eliminate yellow fever epidemics, which runs from 2017 to 2026.
WHO called for stronger surveillance, systematic laboratory testing of suspected cases and active case finding in neighboring areas. It said travelers aged 9 months and older heading to at-risk areas should be vaccinated, but advised against restrictions on travel or trade. The warning comes as African health systems also respond to other outbreaks, including malaria in Namibia. Countries were also urged to reinforce health measures at points of entry and major land borders.
