Rio de Janeiro Confirms First Death in the State from Yellow Fever

03/16/2017 - 12h41

The Rio de Janeiro State Health Secretary confirmed on Wednesday (15) two cases of Wild yellow fever - two men, from a rural area of the Casimiro de Abreu municipality, in the lower costal region of the State. One of them has died from complications due to the illness.

According to the Secretary, the patients had no history of travel to regions in Brazil known to be infected with yellow fever - explaining the confirmation that there is local transmission of the illness in the area.

Since the beginning of the outbreak of yellow fever in Minas Gerais in January of this year, Rio has only seen a few "imported" cases of the illness, or in other words, patients coming in from other areas affected by the outbreak.

The confirmation has put authorities on a high state of alert and prompted the government to adopt measures to prevent an increase in the number of cases.

Until now, the vaccine has been made available in 30 municipalities along the border with Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, where there have been confirmed cases of the illness.

Now, vaccination supplies and efforts will be advanced to 24 municipalities considered to be "strategic" which are in areas of higher risk.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

Read the article in the original language