Brazil: Possible yellow fever outbreak in São Paulo /update 2

Event

On Wednesday, November 8, the Ministry of Health reported that 14 suspected cases of yellow fever had been detected in the city of São Paulo since late October. Residents of the city, and São Paulo state more generally, are being urged to get vaccinated against yellow fever if they have not already done so.

Many parks in the city of São Paulo have been closed since late October in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease after a monkey was discovered with the virus. This came after health officials reported one human death attributed to yellow fever in Itatiba, São Paulo state, on October 17.

Context

Symptoms of yellow fever - a mosquito-borne disease - generally appear within three to six days following infection and include fever, chills, muscle and back pain, vomiting, headaches, and, in more serious cases, hemorrhaging, and organ failure. The yellow fever vaccine should be administered at least ten days prior to travel to an affected zone to be fully effective. The vaccine provides life-long immunity.

Advice

Individuals in or planning travel to Brazil are advised to stay abreast of local epidemiological developments, consult their doctor regarding vaccination options, and continue to protect themselves against insects due to the presence of various other mosquito-borne diseases (dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika virus, etc.), e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in screened-in and/or air conditioned rooms.