After the registration of two new cases of yellow fever in the region of border between São Paulo and Minas Geraisthe Ministry of Health issued an alert asking states and municipalities to report suspected cases of the disease as quickly as possible – especially in areas where there is active transmission of the virus.
In a note, the ministry highlighted that agility is important so that future outbreaks of yellow fever in the country are avoided and so that response actions can be promptly carried out if necessary.
The statement highlights that the disease is easily preventable through a vaccine, available in the Unified Health System (SUS) for all ages. Vaccination coverage against yellow fever in Brazil, however, is below what is recommended.
Cases
In the last six months, four cases were registered in the country – one in Roraima, one in Amazonas and two in São Paulo. Of this total, three patients died.
The two most recent cases were identified in a 50-year-old man, resident of the region between Águas de Lindóia and Monte Sião, who died; and in another, 28 years old, in the municipality of Serra Grande, who has already been cured.
Endemic areas
According to the ministry, yellow fever is classified as endemic only in the Amazon region, but, from time to time, the virus reappears in other areas. Most cases occur between December and May.
“Outbreaks occur when the virus encounters favorable conditions for transmission, such as high temperatures, low vaccination coverage and high density of vectors and hosts”, highlighted the ministry.
From 2014 onwards, the virus re-emerged in the Central-West Region and spread, in the following years, to other regions of the country. Between 2014 and 2023, 2,304 cases of yellow fever in humans and 790 deaths from the disease were recorded.
Recommendations
Among the ministry’s recommendations are the alert for surveillance and immunization teams to intensify actions in the affected areas, with expansion to neighboring municipalities; notification of the illness or death of monkeys; and attention to symptoms of mild and moderate fever in unvaccinated people.
Vaccination
The folder also recommends that the strategy of actively searching for unvaccinated people be used in regions where cases occur. Last Friday, 150,000 extra doses of the yellow fever vaccine were made available to the state of São Paulo.
“The recommendation was also made for free access to the vaccine in health units, without the need for prior scheduling”, informed the note. “In a message sent to states and municipalities, the Ministry of Health also makes teams available to support the epidemiological investigation of cases.”
