In Brazil, yellow fever cases registered in two other states

The Brazilian Ministry of Health has already registered 550 yellow fever cases in January, according to an updated report released this Tuesday (Jan. 26). The states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás were put for the first time on the list of suspected cases of the disease, registering one case each.

Of the 550 cases reported, 72 have been confirmed, 23 dismissed, and 455 are under investigation.

Among the patients suspected of having yellow fever, 105 died, 98 of them were in Minas Gerais state. In total, the disease has been confirmed as the cause of death of 40 cases: 37 in Minas Gerais state and three in São Paulo state.

Vaccine

In Brazil, yellow fever vaccines are routinely offered in 19 states that are part of the recommendation for immunization area. People who live in those areas take two doses of the vaccine throughout their life. Currently, however, people who will travel to or live in regions where the cases of the disease are being registered also need to receive the vaccine.

On Wednesday (26), the Ministry of Health announced that it will raise its supply of immunization by 11.5 million doses in addition to the 5.5 million already provided to states this year alone. In non-outbreak years, nationwide vaccine distribution ranged between 800,000 and a million doses.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta