Health authorities in Colombia have reinforced the health alert for yellow fever following the confirmation of ten deaths among the 13 cases reported in the country so far in 2026, according to the latest official bulletin as of January 26.
Official figures indicate that between 2024 and January 2026, 161 cumulative cases of yellow fever have been reported in Colombia, with 73 deaths, which demonstrates the high lethality of the disease when there is no prior vaccination.
“Vaccination is indeed the only method of prevention. Yellow fever is a virus, and there is no specific treatment for the symptoms it produces, so the best thing to do is prevent it,” nurse and professor Diana Sandoval said.
The yellow fever vaccine can be administered starting at nine months of age and provides lifelong immunity.
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Yellow fever is not transmitted from person to person. Transmission occurs only through the bite of the mosquito vector, which thrives in warm, humid climates. Therefore, in addition to vaccination, it is advisable to use insect repellent, sleep under a mosquito net, and avoid the accumulation of stagnant water in tanks, sinks, or drains, which serve as breeding grounds for the mosquito, the same one that can also transmit diseases such as dengue.
Health authorities reiterated their call to the public to go to the free vaccination centers available throughout the country, plan trips in advance, and adopt additional protective measures in at-risk areas. In the case of people over 60 years of age, pregnant women, or patients with autoimmune diseases, a prior medical evaluation is recommended to determine the appropriateness of the vaccine.
The increase in cases and deaths at the beginning of 2026 has once again raised alarms and highlights the importance of prevention and timely vaccination to prevent yellow fever from continuing to claim lives in the country.