Brazil Registers 120 Cases of Yellow Fever with 47 Deaths

01/31/2017 - 10h12

Brazil has already confirmed a total of 120 cases of yellow fever, including 47 deaths, according to summaries from the Federal Health Ministry and from the State Health Ministries of Minas Gerais and São Paulo, published on Monday (the 30th).

The number represents an increase of 19% compared to the previous count available last Friday (the 27th).

Until now, four States have registered suspected or confirmed cases of the illness: Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia and São Paulo.

Although there has been a significant increase in the number of cases, all of those registered so far have been of the wild yellow fever variety, an illness transmitted through a cycle involving monkeys and mosquitos that are present in rural areas, like the Haemagogus - that can transmit the virus to people who haven't been vaccinated. There hasn't been a case of the urban version of the illness registered since 1942.

HISTORICAL SERIES

The 2017 outbreak is the largest in the history of the series published by the Health Ministry since 1980. The previous peak occurred in 2000 with 85 registered cases.

The recent increase in the number of cases set off an alarm among health authorities and has led them to adopt urgent control measures including the intensification of vaccinations.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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