Yellow fever in the Americas: Brazil, Peru and Venezuela

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

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

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

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

As of July 2021 (the current seasonal period), a confirmed case has been reported in an adult male residing in Afua, Pará state.

In addition, during the current seasonal period, 10 confirmed cases of yellow fever have been 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 have been reported, of which 10 have been confirmed and 4 probable cases remain under investigation. Seven deaths occurred among the cases reported 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 the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique at the “Rafael Rangel” National Institute of Hygiene.

The probable site of infection for the seven confirmed cases was the locality of Carapal, a rural parish south of the municipality of Maturín in the state of Monagas.

In addition, from mid-August to the end of September 2021, a total of 10 epizootics among non-humans
primates have been 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 pain) develop 3 to 6 days after infection. About 15% of people infected with the yellow fever virus will develop serious illness which can lead to liver disease, bleeding, shock, organ failure, yellowing of the skin (jaundice) and sometimes death.

Diagnosis is based on symptoms, lab tests, and travel history. The yellow fever virus is spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes.

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