Brazil: Yellow fever outbreak in Minas Gerais

Event

Health officials have warned of an ongoing yellow fever outbreak in Minas Gerais as of mid-January, with four fatal cases confirmed since January 1. According to the Minas Gerais Health Secretariat, 22 cases of yellow fever were confirmed in the last weeks of 2017, including 15 deaths, with 46 suspected cases still under investigation.

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 vaccine provides life-long immunity.

Various other mosquito-borne diseases are also present in Brazil, in both urban and rural areas, including dengue fever, chikungunya, and the Zika virus.

Advice

Individuals in or planning travel to Minas Gerais 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 mosquito-borne diseases (e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in screened-in and/or air conditioned rooms).

A full list of zones where the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends vaccination is available here.​