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EID Updates:

Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Region of the Americas

Vol. 5, No. 12 (13 November 2008)     |     Main Updates index

Yellow Fever Epizootic in Brazil and Argentina

In October of this year, the health authorities of Argentina and Brazil have confirmed the occurrence of yellow fever epizootics in the Misiones province, Argentina, and the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, respectively.

In Brazil, the animal deaths occurred on 30 September 2008 in the municipality of Tres Passos and, on 15 October 2008, in the municipality of Tiradentes do Sul, both cities located in a region where yellow fever epizootics were registered among primates in the years 2001 and 2002.

In addition, monkey deaths were registered in the municipalities of Santa Rosa and Santo Cristo, both located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Samples were collected for laboratory analysis in the four municipalities. To date, only the Tiradentes do Sul epizootic has been confirmed for yellow fever.

In Argentina, on 18 October 2008, monkey deaths were reported in Paraje el Ceibo, Guaraní department, Misiones province. The yellow fever epizootic was confirmed on 28 October 2008.

Up to 13 November 2008, there have been no more rumors on monkey deaths in this area or any other.

Surveillance activities regarding monkey deaths and on this epizootic are being carried out continuously in both countries. In addition, activities for surveillance (of febrile jaundice syndrome) and prevention among humans have been intensified.

Technical Note: Given that spread of yellow fever virus among monkeys in enzootic areas of both Brazil and Argentina, we are emphasizing that any countries with enzootic areas follow the recommendation of the PAHO Technical Advisory Group on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases.

• Intensify immunization activities against yellow fever among the population residing in these areas. All people over the age of one year-whether they reside in urban, rural, or remote areas considered to be enzootic-as well as in areas where there is migration towards enzootic areas, should be vaccinated against yellow fever, with a minimal coverage of 95%.
• Recommend vaccination to any persons travelling to areas considered to be enzootic.
• On the other hand, we also recommend continuing to implement basic surveillance measures:
  • Intensify the surveillance of acute febrile jaundice syndrome, including border areas where an epizootic has been confirmed.
  • Implement surveillance of monkey deaths for the early detection of other areas where the yellow fever virus is spreading and for the adoption of timely measures to prevent human cases.

For more information in the situation in Brazil, see the technical note (in Portuguese) published by the Ministry of Health of Brazil, where there is a map of the affected areas. Translation of Map Title: State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: Area with Registered Monkey Deaths and Confirmed Yellow Fever Epizootic between September and October 2008.

Source: Reports to PAHO from National Ministry of Health of Argentina (Ministerio de Salud de la Nación / MSAL) and the Ministry of Health of Brazil (Ministério da Saúde / MS).