What do I need to know before I travel?
Public Health Scotland logo

Fit for Travel Logo

Information on how to stay safe and healthy abroad. About us.

Yellow Fever in Nigeria

08 Nov 2017

On 3 November 2017 the World Health Organisation (WHO) Link reported 166 cases of acute jaundice syndrome (including 10 deaths) in Nigeria from 16 August to 26 October 2017. Cases are reported from Abia, Borno, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau and Zamfara states.

Half (83) of the cases were tested for yellow fever virus and 25 (30%) of these were found to be positive.

Advice for Travellers

There is a risk of yellow fever in Nigeria. Yellow fever is spread  by the bite of an infected, day-biting mosquito. Insect bites should be avoided. The disease is mainly found in rural areas of affected countries but outbreaks in urban areas do occur. Vaccination is usually recommended.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.

For further information see Yellow Fever.