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Yellow Fever in Brazil (Update 17)

10 May 2018

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Controlreports that from July 2017 to 29 April 2018, Brazil has recorded 1 257 confirmed human cases of yellow fever, including 394 deaths. Cases have been reported in São Paolo (525), Minas Gerais (511), Rio de Janeiro (214), Espirito Santo (6) and Distrito Federal (1).

Yellow fever has also been reported in monkeys, presenting a possible risk of further spread of infection to humans. There have been 732 confirmed infections in monkeys in several states: São Paulo (587), Minas Gerais (100), Rio de Janeiro (39), Tocantins (3), Espirito Santo (2) and Mato Grosso (1).

Advice to travellers

  • There is a widespread risk of yellow fever in Brazil, including São Paulo State and São Paulo City.
  • Yellow fever risk areas in Brazil are shown here.
  • A traveller's risk of yellow fever is determined by their general risk assessment e.g. country visited, length of stay, city or rural, activities etc.
  • Mosquito bite avoidance rules should be adhered to at all times - the mosquito that spreads yellow fever bites predominantly during the day.
  • The World Health Organisation recommends yellow fever vaccine for travellers to areas at risk of yellow fever (including all of São Paulo State and São Paulo City) unless contraindicated.

For further information see Yellow Fever.