Yellow Fever Fatalities Reported in South America

Recent reports indicate that the yellow fever (YF) virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, will continue to have a severe impact on human health in 2024.

According to the U.K.'s Travel Health Pro reporting on April 4, 2024, in South America, there have been seven confirmed cases of YF, out of which four have been fatal, including three in Colombia and two in Guyana and Peru, respectively.

In Brazil, six cases of yellow fever, including four deaths, have been confirmed this year in Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, and São Paulo.

While vaccination for YF is one of the most successful public health interventions to prevent the disease, most international travelers remain unprotected.

Public health leaders in the United Kingdom, the United States, and the World Health Organization recommend pre-trip yellow fever vaccination for all travelers aged nine months and above who are visiting areas with a risk of yellow fever unless the vaccine is not advised for medical reasons.

In 2017, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded its yellow fever vaccine recommendations for travelers to Brazil because of a large outbreak in multiple states.

As of April 11, 2024, the YF-VAX® vaccine is offered at certified clinics and pharmacies in the U.S. Internationally, the Stamaril vaccine is offered in various countries.

These vaccine providers also offer travel-related vaccination services for diseases such as dengue, influenza, measles, and polio.