Yellow fever in Brazil

17 January 2003

Disease Outbreak Reported

The Brazilian Ministry of Health has reported 24 cases and 5 deaths from sylvatic yellow fever in Minas Gerais State. All cases, of which 4 have been laboratory confirmed, have occurred in a localized rural area. Teams from the Ministry of Health and the Minas Gerais State health department are investigating. A vaccination campaign has already started. The WHO Regional Office for the Americas (PAHO) is following the outbreak closely and is in regular communication with the Ministry of Health.