Situation summary in the Americas
- In 2015, three countries in the Americas have confirmed yellow fever virus circulation:
Bolivia (epizootic), Brazil, and Peru (human cases).
- In 2016, as of epidemiological week (EW) 24, three countries have reported jungle yellow fever: Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.
Epidemiological Situation
Since May 2016, no new cases of yellow fever in humans have been reported in Brazil, nor have there been any new epizootics. In 2016, there has been one fatal case of jungle yellow fever in a 38 year old unvaccinated male resident of Bady Bassit, São Paulo with a history of travel to a rural area endemic for yellow fever. In addition, in 2016, epizootics in non-human primates were reported in the state of Minas Gerais.
In June 2016, the Colombia International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) reported to PAHO/WHO a fatal case of jungle yellow fever in the municipality of La Macarena in the department of Meta. In addition, a field epidemiological investigation was carried out following the reported human case identified epizootics in nonhuman primates in three municipalities of Meta Department: La Macarena, Puerto Concordia, and Puerto Rico.
The Colombia health authorities implemented the following public health actions in response to this situation: strengthening surveillance of yellow fever cases through active case search and intensified surveillance of febrile cases; increase vaccination coverage in the three municipalities where the epizootics were identified; intensified surveillance of epizootics and vector control; and intensified risk communication.
The department of Meta, is an endemic area for yellow fever and the occurrence of human cases in unvaccinated individuals is within the expected.
In Peru, up to epidemiological week (EW) 24 of 2016, there were 106 suspected cases of yellow fever reported, including 9 deaths. Of the reported cases, 37 were confirmed, 42 were classified as probable, and 27 were discarded. Out of the 25 departments in Peru, cases have been reported in 7 departments, with the department of Junin reporting the most confirmed and probable cases (58 cases).
The number of confirmed and probable cases (79) reported in Peru up to EW 24 of 2016, exceeds the number of cases (confirmed and probable) reported in the previous nine years.