In a follow-up to the yellow fever outbreak in several Brazilian states, the Brazil Ministry of Health (computer translated) ordered 11.5 million doses of yellow fever vaccines to strengthen it’s strategic stockpile.
Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Health has sent extra doses of the yellow fever vaccine to states that are registering suspected cases of the disease, as well as others located in the border with areas that have reported cases.
In total, 5.4 million extra doses were sent to five states: Minas Gerais (2.9 million), Espírito Santo (1.05 million), Bahia (400 thousand), Rio de Janeiro (350 thousand) and São Paulo (700 thousand).
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health registered 438 suspected cases of yellow fever, 89 deaths. Of the total, 364 remain under investigation, 70 were confirmed and four were discarded. Of the 89 reported deaths, 40 were confirmed and 49 remain under investigation. The cases were registered in Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia, São Paulo and the Federal District. Minas Gerais is the state with the highest number of registrations to date.
Minas Gerais state has been visited by a health team to assist in the care of patients.
This is the biggest yellow fever outbreak in Brazil in nearly two decades.
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