French Guiana: Locally-acquired yellow fever case reported

Event

According to health officials, a locally-acquired (autochthonous) case of yellow fever was confirmed in French Guiana in mid-August. Reports indicate that the patient was exposed to the disease in the town of Roura before being medically evacuated to a hospital in Paris. Another autochthonous case of yellow fever was confirmed in French Guiana in August 2017, the first since 1998.

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.

Advice

Individuals in or planning travel to French Guiana 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).