In light of the circulation of yellow fever in several areas of the Region, and considering current outbreaks in countries outside of this Region, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) advises Member States to maintain the capacity to detect and confirm cases of yellow fever, provide updated information for health professionals and train them to enable them to properly detect and manage cases, especially in areas at risk for yellow fever circulation. In addition, Member States are encouraged to maintain high vaccination coverage in at risk populations.
Situation summary
In the Region of the Americas, over the past decade, cases of yellow fever were reported in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. In 2015, three countries in the Americas confirmed yellow fever virus circulation (Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru) and in 2016 only one country, Peru, confirmed cases of yellow fever. Brazil is currently investigating the occurrence of epizootics in areas where the virus had circulated.
In December 2015, Bolivia1 reported the detection of epizootics (deaths of non-human primates) due to yellow fever in the municipality of Monteagudo, Chuquisaca Department. No human cases were detected.
In July 2014, Brazil declared the reemergence of yellow fever virus in the country due to epizootics in non-human primates in which the presence of the virus was confirmed. Between July 2014 and June 2015 seven cases of yellow fever including four deaths were confirmed. The distribution of cases by location of exposure is: Goias (5 cases), Mato Grosso do Sul (1 case), and Pará (1 case). All cases were non-vaccinated males with their ages ranging between 7 and 59 years. Four had been exposed to the virus during tourism, two through rural activities and one from residing in a rural area.
In addition, the Secretary of Health of Rio Grande do Norte reported a fatal case under investigation. The case is a patient who died in Natal in July 2015, whose initial tests resulted positive for yellow fever. The patient had no history of travel to endemic areas. No other cases