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Yellow Fever in Peru

27 Apr 2016

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) published a yellow fever (YF) Epidemiological Alert on 22 April 2016.

In the Americas region, Peru is the only country in 2016, to report confirmed human cases of yellow fever. In the first 3 months of the year, a total of 25 suspected YF cases (including 2 deaths) were reported. Of those, 9 were confirmed as YF, 11 were classed as probable and 5 were discounted. The departments with the highest number of cases were Junin (8) and San Martin (6).

In 2014, 15 YF cases were reported and in 2015, 17 were reported.

Advice for Travellers

The cases of YF in this report are located in the Amazon basin of Peru which is a known YF risk area. YF vaccination is usually recommended for travellers to the Amazon.

It is essential that travellers also take steps to avoid mosquito bites to reduce their risk of YF, malaria and other mosquito-borne infections in the Amazon.