Brazil: Yellow fever outbreaks /update 11

Event

Yellow fever outbreaks continue to affect Brazil, particularly the southeast, although transmission rates appear to be on the decline. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Health, 2180 suspected or confirmed cases of the disease were reported in the country (including 342 deaths) between July 1, 2017, and April 17, 2018. The worst-hit areas have been the southeastern states of Minas Gerais (788), São Paulo (903), and Rio de Janeiro (281). While yellow fever has not yet been detected in cities, urban cases cannot be ruled out.

The ministry is advising residents in all regions of the country to be vaccinated. A major vaccination campaign is underway, expected to continue until April 2019.

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 lifelong immunity.

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

Advice

Individuals in or planning travel to Brazil are advised to consult their doctor regarding vaccination options and take measures to protect themselves from mosquitoes (e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in screened-in and/or air-conditioned rooms).