Six countries in South America have reported suspected and confirmed yellow fever cases and if citizens from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, and Suriname want to travel to the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, they will be required to present a proof of Yellow Fever vaccination via their International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, according to the Ministry of Health Saturday.
In Brazil, since the beginning of the yellow fever outbreak in December 2016 to 17 March of 2017, there were 1,561 cases of yellow fever reported, of which 28.7% were laboratory-confirmed (n=448). 264 deaths have been reported, of which 144 were confirmed. The case fatality rate (CFR) is 32% among confirmed cases.
Peru has seen 14 cases (3 confirmed) and Ecuador has reported the first confirmed case in five years.
In Suriname, a laboratory confirmed case of yellow fever was reported in a traveler from the Netherlands who had not been vaccinated for yellow fever and had remained in Suriname from mid-February to early-March 2017.
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The Health Ministry also notes that persons travelling to a country where the proof of Yellow Fever vaccination via their International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis is required are advised to visit their County Medical Offices of Health TWO WEEKS prior to their departure from Trinidad and Tobago with the following: Proof of travel and Proof of Yellow Fever immunization.
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