Yellow fever in South America (Update 1)
31 Mar 2025
The Pan American Health Organization reports continued transmission of yellow fever in 2025. As of 23 March 2025, the affected countries are:
Bolivia: 1 case (died) in the department of La Paz department, with a history of travel to Alto Beni in Caranavi province.
Brazil: 81 cases (31 deaths) São Paulo (34 cases), Pará (41 cases), Minas Gerais (5 cases), Tocantins (1 case).
Colombia: 31 cases (13 deaths) affected departments are Caquetá (1 case), Putumayo (1 case), and Tolima (29 cases).
Peru: 18 cases (8 deaths). Affected departments are: Huanuco (1 case), San Martin (5 cases) and Amazonas (12 cases).
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 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.
- Locate your nearest yellow fever vaccination centre in Scotland
- Locate your nearest yellow fever vaccination centre in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required for entry to some countries
Further guidance can be found on fitfortravel country pages and the advice page on Yellow Fever.