Yellow fever in South America: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana & Peru
02 Aug 2024
On 31 July 2024, the Pan American Health Organization published an update on yellow fever in South American countries. The affected countries are:
Bolivia: 4 cases (3 deaths) from 20 April 2024 to 8 June 2024 in La Paz department.
Brazil: 3 cases (2 deaths) from 5 February 2024 to 1 April 2024 in Amazonas state.
Colombia: 8 cases (5 deaths) from 3 January 2024 to 2 July 2024 from Caquetá, Huila, Nariño, Putumayo and Vaupés departments
Guyana: 2 cases in the week ending 16 March 2024. The first case was diagnosed in Brazil but works in forestry in Spiaruni, Guyana, where the second case also lives.
Peru: 16 cases (7 deaths) from 11 January to 12 July 2024 in Huánuco, Junín, Madre de Dios, San Martin and Ucayali departments.
Yellow fever is an acute viral disease which is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. It is found in tropical areas of Africa and Central and South America.
Yellow fever is a disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes that bite during the day. The most common symptoms are fever, muscle pain with prominent obvious backache, headache, loss of appetite, and feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting). A small proportion of people that become infected can become severely unwell and die.
Advice to travellers
If you are visiting an area where yellow fever is present you should:
- use personal protective measures to avoid mosquito bites at all times
A yellow fever vaccine is available to protect you against yellow fever. Vaccination is recommended if you are visiting areas where there is a risk of yellow fever transmission. The vaccine is only available at designated yellow fever centres.
Some travellers may be required to have yellow fever vaccination before entry to some countries.
- Locate your nearest yellow fever vaccination centre in Scotland
- Locate your nearest yellow fever vaccination centre in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Detailed guidance can be found on fitfortravel advice page on Yellow Fever.