Thirty-three cases of yellow fever found in five American countries

Washington, Jul 31 (Prensa Latina) Between the beginning of January and mid-July 2024, 33 confirmed cases of yellow fever and 17 deaths from this cause were reported in the Americas, PAHO/WHO reported today.

July 31, 2024
16:55

The reports occurred in five countries: Bolivia (four cases and three deaths), Brazil (three and two, respectively), Colombia (eight and five), Guyana (two cases, no deaths) and Peru (16 and seven).

According to the epidemiological update issued by the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the cases were reported throughout the Amazon region of Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, following a trajectory from south to north.

According to experts, in the Americas region the risk of yellow fever outbreaks is high.

Yellow fever is a serious viral hemorrhagic disease that represents a challenge for health professionals, as it requires early recognition of signs and symptoms, which are often nonspecific and may mimic other acute febrile syndromes.

Classic studies on the natural history of the disease show that it is clinically characterized by three phases: infection, with elevated body temperature; remission, with the presence of albuminuria; and toxic, with hemorrhagic manifestations and signs and symptoms of acute liver failure, such as jaundice and hepatic encephalopathy.

There is still no specific treatment for yellow fever, therefore, early detection of suspected or confirmed cases, monitoring of vital signs, life support measures and management of acute liver failure continue to be the recommended strategies for case management.

The yellow fever vaccine is safe, affordable and a single dose is sufficient to confer lifelong immunity and protection, without the need for booster doses.

Although immunization is one of the most successful public health interventions to prevent this disease, most cases reported during 2024 have no history of vaccination against yellow fever.

Therefore, PAHO/WHO urges member states with risk areas for yellow fever to continue their efforts to strengthen surveillance and vaccination in endemic areas.

They emphasize the need for countries to ensure vaccination coverage greater than or equal to 95 percent in a homogeneous manner and for health authorities to ensure they have a strategic reserve inventory that allows them to maintain routine vaccination and at the same time respond to possible outbreaks.

ef/mem/lpn