Brazil: Heightened yellow fever risk December to March

Event

There is a heightened risk of contracting yellow fever in Brazil between December and March, due to increased summer temperatures. According to Brazilian health officials, some of the highest-risk areas currently include the southeastern states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais. Unvaccinated individuals in these areas are advised to have themselves vaccinated ahead of this period.

Earlier in the year, the health ministry began advising residents in all regions of the country to be vaccinated. A major 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).