Confirmed cases of Yellow Fever in Rural areas in Brazil
More than 390 human cases of yellow fever have been reported and confirmed in rural areas of Brazil since December 2016. Brazil’s Ministry of Health has reported cases in Minas Gerais State, Espirito Santo State, and Bahia State. There are also reported cases of deceased monkeys due to yellow fever in the same states. The last major outbreak of yellow fever in these areas were in 2008.
Travellers are recommended to receive the yellow fever vaccination prior to travel to risk areas for yellow fever and follow strict insect precautions. It is important to seek travel health advise prior to any trip abroad. The recommended time frame for travel health advice is a minimum of 4-6 weeks before departure to allow enough time for vaccine effectiveness and to start any vaccine series if necessary.
What is yellow fever?
Yellow fever is a vaccine preventable virus transmitted to human by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. The virus attacks the liver and causes jaundice (yellow of the skin and eyes).
Risk varies traveler to traveler depending on destination(s), length of trip, medical contraindication etc. The yellow fever mosquito typically bites during the day and especially at sunrise and sunset.
Symptom onset is general 3-6 days and can include:
fever chills joint/muscle pain abdominal pain nausea fatigue severe cases of yellow fever virus infection lead to shock, internal bleeding, jaundice and subsequent organ failure which can result in death.