Brazil: Yellow fever outbreak continues in the southeast /update 10

Event

As of March 27, at least 1131 confirmed cases of yellow fever, including 338 deaths, had been reported in the country since July 2017. According to health officials, another 915 potential cases are under investigation. The worst-hit areas have been the southeastern states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais. While yellow fever has not been detected in cities, urban cases cannot be ruled out.

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 and should be administered at least ten days prior to travel to an affected area to be fully effective.

The Brazilian Ministry of Health has announced plans to launch a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign. According to the ministry, the vaccination campaigns already ongoing in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Bahia will be progressively extended throughout the country with the goal of vaccinating all Brazilian municipalities by April 2019.

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 the affected regions 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).