In a follow-up on the yellow fever outbreak in Brazil, through the first 18 days of 2017, 206 suspected and probable cases of yellow fever were reported, including 53 deaths in Minas Gerais state, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). This is up from 110 cases and 30 deaths reported one week ago.
In addition, four suspected cases of yellow fever have been reported in neighboring Espírito Santo state.
In bordering Rio de Janeiro state, health officials are advising the public in the fourteen municipalities in the North and Northwest Fluminense regions that border Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states about awareness of yellow fever.
The Rio Times report states authorities announced that a total of 250,000 doses of the yellow fever vaccine were also requested from the Ministry of Health, which will be distributed to these cities, to create a blocking region against the disease virus.
Yellow fever is a disease caused by a virus, which is spread through mosquito bites. Symptoms take 3–6 days to develop and include fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches. About 15% of people who get yellow fever develop serious illness that can lead to bleeding, shock, organ failure, and sometimes death.
Related:
- Save the Children: Africa yellow fever outbreak ‘on the brink of going global’
- A Short History of Yellow Fever in the US
- NIH funds yellow fever vaccine research at Saint Louis University
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