At the end of 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on 44 suspected cases of yellow fever – including 14 deaths – in the North African country of Sudan. The cases were observed in the West and South Kordofan states of Sudan, and the country’s Federal Ministry of Health, along with WHO, has subsequently advanced plans for a mass vaccination campaign in affected areas to reign in the outbreak. The disease is caused by a virus spread via mosquito bites, takes around six days to develop and can bring on backache, chills, fever, headache and muscle aches. Around 15 per cent of sufferers are at risk of developing a serious illness that can, in some cases, lead to death. Yellow fever vaccines are available, and travellers should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, including using insect repellent, covering exposed skin and sleeping in screened or air-conditioned rooms.