Yellow fever in South America 2024
Cases were reported mainly throughout the Amazon region of Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Guyana
During the first eight months of 2024, 38 confirmed cases of yellow fever have been reported in five countries in South America—Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Guyana.
Of this total, 19, or half the cases resulted in death.
In Bolivia, seven cases of yellow fever had been confirmed (six by laboratory and one by clinical and epidemiological link), including three deaths. The cases include six men and one woman, ages 15 to 64 years.
In Brazil, three confirmed cases of yellow fever, including two deaths, had been reported in the states of Amazonas (n= 1 fatal case), Minas Gerais (n= 1 fatal case), and São Paulo (n= 1 case).
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In Colombia, eight confirmed cases of yellow fever had been reported, including five deaths. Seven of the cases were identified through laboratory and histopathology surveillance for dengue, confirmed through real-time PCR analysis. Cases have been reported in five departments. All cases had history of exposure to wild or wooded areas, due to agricultural work activities. One case had a history of yellow fever vaccination
In Guyana, two laboratory-confirmed cases were identified in mid-March this year.
In Peru, 18 cases of yellow fever had been confirmed, including nine deaths. All cases had a history of exposure to wild and/or wooded areas, due to agricultural work activities, and no history of vaccination against yellow fever.
In South America, the risk of yellow fever outbreaks is high. Although immunization is one of the most successful public health interventions to prevent this disease, most of the cases reported during 2024 do not have a history of yellow fever vaccination.
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever that spreads through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Symptoms of yellow fever (fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches) develop 3-6 days after infection. About 15% of people infected with yellow fever virus will develop severe illness that can lead to liver disease, bleeding, shock, organ failure, yellowing skin (jaundice), and sometimes death.
Diagnosis is based on symptoms, laboratory testing, and travel history.
There are no medications to treat or cure yellow fever. Yellow fever vaccine is the best protection against this disease.