By MAIMBOLWA  MULIKELELA –
THE Government has advised the Zambian travellers to Botswana and South Africa to continue carrying their yellow fever certificates
until the matter is fully resolved.
Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Zambia as a low yellow fever potential exposure status.

. Dr Kasonde

Health Minister Joseph Kasonde said there had been no formal response from South Africa and the Botswana authorities following the request
by the Government to re-look at their demands for yellow fever certificates from the Zambian travellers.
In an interview in Lusaka, Dr Kasonde said travellers entering South Africa and Botswana should continue to carry their yellow fever certificates until the issue was resolved.
“We had received a letter from Director General of WHO where she advised that results from scientific studies done in Zambia in 2013 have been analysed. It has been shown from these scientific studies that Zambia has low yellow fever potential exposure status,” he said.
In accordance with WHO health regulations yellow fever vaccinations are not recommended in such cases.
He said this means that travellers from Zambia to other countries do not need vaccination certificates for yellow fever to enter
any country in the world.
Dr Kasonde said the Government had written to both Botswana and South Africa requesting them to re-look at their demands for yellow fever
certification from the Zambia travellers saying that his ministry was still waiting for a response.
“We need to have patience and wait until they respond to our request. In the meantime I recommend that travellers entering South Africa or
Botswana should continue producing their yellow fever certificate until Government resolves the issue,” Dr Kasonde said.