According to news reports, the Republic of the Congo is launching a vaccination drive in response to an outbreak of yellow fever. It is reported that so far this year there have been more than 180 suspected cases and one confirmed case of the virus. The health ministry is yet to confirm when the campaign will begin but the vaccines will be free of charge. In a statement the ministry said that the only people who will not be vaccinated are children aged under nine months, pregnant women and mothers breastfeeding infants aged under six months. Although no deaths have been reported in the outbreak, a major outbreak in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo killed more than 400 people in 2016 and was believed to have infected thousands more before an extensive vaccination campaign managed to control the spread. It is hoped that the national vaccination campaign will save lives.