Yellow fever alert
UPDATE: Ten facts about yellow fever in Brazil
Yellow fever has hit the headlines once again. The Brazilian authorities have re-issued a health alert for visitors coming to Brazil and intending to visit certain regions of the country where yellow fever is endemic. The recent deaths of a handful of people in Goiania and Brasilia have provoked a sudden rush to the health centres.
The basic facts about yellow fever in Brazil remain the same:
1. It is strongly recommended that people visiting the states of Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Distrito Federal, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins be vaccinated against yellow fever.
2. Additional areas of potential risk have been identified in the western areas of the states of Santa Catarina, Paraná (including the area around Iguassu Falls), Piauí, São Paulo and on the southern part of the state of Bahia. No cases of yellow fever have been recorded on these areas but visitors are advised to get the vaccine.
3. Any other part of the country not included above is risk-free. The popular tourist destinations where there is no risk of catching yellow fever and, therefore, no need to get the vaccine, include:
State of ALAGOAS: Maceió, Maragogi, the Rota Ecológica and the rest of the state.
State of BAHÍA: Salvador, Morro de São Paulo, Praia do Forte. For the southern coast of the state (Porto Seguro, Arraial d’Ajuda, Trancoso, Caraíva) the vaccine is recommended.
State of CEARÁ: Fortaleza, Canoa Quebrada, Jericoacoara and the rest of the state.
State of PARAÍBA: João Pessoa and the rest of the state.
State of PARANÁ: Ilha do Mel and the rest of the coast of the state.
State of PERNAMBUCO: Recife, Olinda, Porto de Galinhas, Fernando de Noronha and the rest of the state.
State of RÍO DE JANEIRO: Río de Janeiro, Paraty, Ilha Grande, Búzios, Arraial do Cabo, Cabo Frío and the rest of the coast of the state.
State of SANTA CATARINA: Bombinhas, Camboriu, Florianópolis and the rest of the coast of the state.
State of SÃO PAULO: Santos, Guarujá, Ilhabela, Ubatuba and the rest of the coast of the state.
State of SERGIPE: Aracaju and the rest of the state.
State of RIO GRANDE DO NORTE: Natal, Pipa and the rest of the state.
The latest information can be found on the Brazilian Health Minister website: Ministério da Saúde. As usual in Brazil, the information contained on the Ministry’s homepage is only in Portuguese.
However, a reader of this blog has reported the existence of a website of the same Ministry, but under a different subdomain (and with no link from the Ministry’s homepage) with information in English on yellow fever: Febre amarela (I certainly can’t see how a visitor to the Ministry’s webpage would find their way to the page in English). The information contained here is of a general nature and does not relate specifically to the current crisis, as does the Portuguese-only information of the homepage. So, those wanting to read more about yellow fever in English can do so at the link provided; those wanting to find out information in English on the current crisis, will be left waiting.
Yellow fever is a serious disease. If in doubt, get the vaccine. You should do so at least 10 days prior to travel.
January 10th, 2008 at 10:52 am
[...] to travel is needed, plus basic facts about yellow fever in Brazil and general recommendations at Brazil Travel Blog. Share [...]
January 13th, 2008 at 7:55 am
[...] 「ブラジル当局は、黄熱病が多発するブラジルの特定地域への訪問者に対し警告を再発令した。」Brazil Travel Blogで、旅行前にワクチン接種が必要である地域のリストと、加えてブラジルの黄熱病についての基礎的情報を見ることができる。 [...]
January 16th, 2008 at 9:50 am
“The latest information can be found on the Brazilian Health Minister website: Ministério da Saúde. As usual in Brazil, only in Portuguese.”
IT IS NOT TRUE!!!!!!!!
All information is also available IN ENGLISH on the mentioned website.
Is it only a mistaken information from your site?
I really hope so!
January 16th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Sandra, I would have expected a claim so vociferously voiced would have come along with some evidence to support it - not nice to point the finger if you can’t justify why you do so.
Would you be so kind as to point to me where the English version of the site I have linked here is? To be able to concede I am mistaken and correct the information I have given here I would need some evidence that backed up your claim.
I haven’t been able to find any links to an English version of the site I have linked here. I have spent a few minutes searching for “inglês” and “English”. Nothing. Niente. I thought it could be because I’m using Firefox (Brazilian goverment webpages are notoriously unfriendly to Firefox users) but I’ve had a look with Explorer to no avail.
January 16th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Dear Tony,
As you have required, here is the link to find the information in English from Ministerio da Saude.
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/febreamarela/index.php
As you can see, the link exists to support my “vociferous voyce”. And yes, I can back up my claim.
I hope that you can now correct the given information.
My best regards.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Only to be clear enough
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/febreamarela/ingles.php
January 17th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Thanks Sandra, I’ve added the link you left.
January 17th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
My dear Tony,
The link you have given corresponds to the following address
http://portal.saude.gov.br/saude/
As you open this page you will find a yellow button where is writen “Febre Amarela”.
Click on this button. The following page is the Health Department page only about Yellow Fever.
At this page, on the left side, you will find green buttons. The last one leads to the English version.
I could find it very easily following your own directions. So can you, I’m sure.
My best regards
Sandra
January 17th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Obrigado, Sandra. I rest my case.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:04 am
Anyone have more specific info on this as of today, Feb 21? We had a family reunion planned for a coastal spot just south of Trancoso with family coming from different international locations, but with the more recent cdc outbreak news, I am reluctantly opting not to join, because I have 3-month old who cannot be vaccinated for yellow fever. Is there a way to find out more specifics about the exact location of recent cases, in case it could actually be safe for us to join our family?
February 21st, 2008 at 7:10 am
So far there have only been cases in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goiás and Distrito Federal, all of them miles away from Trancoso.
Trancoso is located in what the Brazilian Ministry of Health considers to be a “potential risk area”. Whatever that means, I’m not sure, but my guess is that they consider those areas as places where the disease could hypothetically arrive if things got out of control.
So far, there have been no cases whatsoever registered on the region or neighbouring areas.
As there is a baby involved, and I’m no health professional, I’m reluctanct to give any further advice. I hope the information I have given you on the cases recorded to date is helpful enough.
March 16th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
My wife and I are planning to travel to Sao Paulo, Curitiba, and Rio in April. I know that these areas are not considered high risk locations for yellow fever, but my wife will be 4 months pregnant. We’ve never been to Brazil and are trying to make an informed decision. I would greatly appreciate some feedback.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Paul, you have the most up-to-date info on the entry: Ten facts about yellow fever in Brazil.
There is no yellow fever risk in the cities you mentioned. No cases have been recorded until today and the authorities still consider them risk-free areas.
April 15th, 2008 at 5:33 am
Hi, do you have any information on the current state of the “rumoured” epidemic siutation in and around Rio de Janeiro? Just like Paul was mentioning, I also plan to travel to Rio in early May with my girlfriend and would like to have a clear picture about yellow fever and dengue fever situation around the city and the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Thanks in advance,
Balint
April 15th, 2008 at 5:42 am
Hi Balint. There have been no cases of yellow fever in Rio. Regarding dengue fever, I have an entry on the topic: Dengue fever epidemic in Rio. The situation is very serious and I would consider postponing the trip or at least avoiding the capital.