The interplay between environmental factors, vector competence and vaccine immunodynamics as possible explanation of the 2019 yellow fever re-emergence in Nigeria

Throughout the year 2019, Nigeria had sporadic outbreaks of yellow fever (YF), which began in the northern region of the country. Indeed, controlling the bites and population of Aedes mosquitoes and vaccination are the only effective means of preventing YF. Vectorial migration, sylvan-to-urban spillover, immunization failure and, perhaps, genetic modification of YFV could be reasons for the re-emergence of YF at the community, state and national levels. This article offers a critical review of the vector biology, YF vaccine immunodynamics and environmental drivers of YFV infections, with the aim of understanding the interplay of these factors in the re-emergence of YF and risk assessment of living in or travelling to areas where YF is endemic.