Yellow fever in the Americas: Brazil, Peru and Venezuela

October 8, 2021

Headlines, Latin America and the Caribbean

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In 2021 to date, three countries in the Region of the Americas (Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela) have reported confirmed yellow fever cases.

Western hemisphere map
Public domain image/ E Pluribus Anthony

In Brazil, from July 2020 to April 2021 (the seasonal period), eight confirmed yellow fever cases were reported, including three deaths.

All the confirmed cases during this period were reported from the state of Santa Catarina.

Since July 2021 (the current seasonal period), one confirmed case was reported in a adult male resident from Afua, Pará State.

In addition, during the current seasonal period, 10 confirmed yellow fever cases were reported in non-human primates in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.

In Peru, a total of 14 cases of yellow fever were reported, of which 10 were confirmed and 4 probable cases remain under investigation. Seven deaths occurred among the reported cases in the departments of Puno (4), San Martín (2) and Loreto (1).

During the last week of September, Venezuela reported a total of 7 cases of yellow fever cases, all
laboratory confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique at the “Rafael Rangel” National Hygiene Institute.

The probable site of infection for the seven confirmed cases was the Carapal Locality, a rural parish located at south of the Maturín Municipality in the state of Monagas.

Additionally, from mid-August to the end of September 2021, a total of 10 epizootics among non-human
primates were reported in Venezuela – seven in Monagas state and three in Anzoátegui state.

In 2020, two countries in the Region of the Americas reported confirmed cases of yellow fever: Bolivia and Peru.

Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever.

Symptoms of yellow fever (fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches) develop 3-6 days after infection. About 15% of people infected with yellow fever virus will develop severe illness that can lead to liver disease, bleeding, shock, organ failure, yellowing skin (jaundice), and sometimes death.

Diagnosis is based on symptoms, laboratory testing, and travel history. Yellow fever virus spreads through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

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