Yellow Fever in Brazil (Update 2)

On the 16 January 2017 a government report (in Portuguese) from the Brazilian Ministry of Health advised that so far in 2017 a total of 152 suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) have been reported, of which 37 are probable*.

A total of 47 deaths have been reported, of which 22 are considered probable deaths from YF. The deaths occurred in the following municipalities of Ladainha (8), Piedade de Caratinga (4), Ipanema (2), Malacacheta (2), Imbé de Minas (1), Ubaporanga (1), São Sebastião do Maranhão (1), Itambacuri 1), Poté (1) and Setubinha (1).

The distribution of the reported and probable cases of YF and areas of occurrence are currently under investigation.

* The term ‘probable case’ means that, despite a laboratory test for YF, the final confirmation of the case also requires epidemiological investigation, vaccination history and displacement of these patients.

Advice to travellers

• A traveller's risk of yellow fever is determined by their general risk assessment e.g. country visited, length of stay, city or rural, activities etc.
• Mosquito bite avoidance rules should be adhered to - the mosquito that spreads yellow fever bites predominantly during the day.
• Yellow fever vaccine should be considered for travellers at risk.