Epidemiological update: Yellow fever outbreak in Brazil, 26 January 2017

Weekly summary

Since 20 January, when only the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo reported cases of yellow fever, four additional states (Bahia, São Paulo, Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul) have reported cases. Among these four states, only São Paulo has reported confirmed cases.

 

As of 26 January, the most affected state remains Minas Gerais, reporting 467 cases. Suspected and confirmed cases are also reported in Espírito Santo (33), Bahia (6), São Paulo (3), Goiás (1) and Mato Grosso do Sul (1). The Ministry of Health in Brazil has launched mass vaccination campaigns targeting the affected areas.

 

On 26 January 2017, the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization reported new municipalities at risk for yellow fever transmission in Bahia, Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro states.

Epidemiological summary 

Since 6 January 2017, Brazil has been reporting an outbreak of yellow fever. The index case had onset of symptoms on 18 December 2016. The first laboratory confirmation was reported on 19 January 2017.

 

As of 26 January, authorities report 511 cases (including 88 confirmed) in six different states.

 

States reporting confirmed and suspected cases as of 26 January:

• Minas Gerais has reported 467 (383 suspected and 84 confirmed) cases in 48 municipalities, including 97 deaths for which 40 are confirmed. The case fatality rate (CFR) is currently 20.7% among all cases, and 47.6% among confirmed cases.
• Espírito Santo has reported 33 cases, including one confirmed in 18 municipalities.
• São Paulo has reported three confirmed cases in three municipalities, all of whom died.

States reporting suspected cases as of 26 January:

• Bahia has reported six suspected cases in three municipalities, with no death recorded.
• Goiás has reported one suspected case in one municipality, who died.
• Mato Grosso do Sul has reported one suspected case in one municipality, with no death recorded.

The Brazilian Ministry of Health has launched mass vaccination campaigns targeting the affected areas.

ECDC assessment

The risk of yellow fever transmission in the EU/EEA is currently very low as it depends on the virus being introduced by viraemic travellers to an area with an established, competent and active mosquito vector population.



 

Distribution of confirmed cases of locally acquired yellow fever, Brazil, 2017 - 26 January, 2017 

The map is based on sources from WHO and the Ministry of Health of Brazil:

• Wkly Epidemiol Rec 37, 2011, 86, 401-416. Cf page 407
• Jentes ES, Poumerol G, Gershman MD, Hill DR, Lemarchand J, Lewis RF, et al. The revised global yellow fever risk map and recommendations for vaccination, 2010: consensus of the Informal WHO Working Group on Geographic Risk for Yellow Fever. Lancet Infect Dis. 2011 Aug;11(8):622-32. 
• WHO PAHO