WHO reports yellow fever outbreak in Venezuela and recommends vaccination

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported an outbreak of yellow fever in Venezuela, with seven cases that were confirmed by laboratory tests at the end of September and among which six corresponded to people who were not vaccinated against this endemic disease in this and other countries in South America.

Faced with this health risk, in a country with a very precarious health system and facing the pandemic of COVID-19, WHO said that the most urgent thing is to increase vaccination coverage among the population, particularly those who live in Amazon areas and who are exposed to two mosquitoes that transmit the disease in forest areas (Haemagogus and Sabethes).

He also recommended that vaccination be increased among indigenous people, immigrants and vulnerable people living in densely populated urban areas, where they are exposed to the Aedes agyepti mosquito, active in cities.

“The reported cases of yellow fever show the importance of vaccinating against yellow fever, especially in high-risk endemic areas with ecosystems favorable to its transmission,” WHO said in a statement.

On the other hand, the organization recommended that all travelers older than nine months get vaccinated against yellow fever at least ten days before entering Venezuela.

The vaccine in question has been used for several decades and is on the list of effective and safe drugs of the WHO, and with a single dose it generates protection for life.

However, the organization emphasized that it does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions with Venezuela based on the information available so far.

In the registered outbreak no person has died and three patients were asymptomatic. The other four developed symptoms, including headache, eye pain, itchy skin and joint pain.

The probable place of infection is a rural municipality in the state of Monagas, in northeastern Venezuela.

The yellow fever It is classified as a hemorrhagic disease caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes and can occur in humans and other primates. It has no specific treatment, its potential for spread is very high, and it can cause serious health problems among unvaccinated people.

The WHO noted that Monagas has a low immunization rate against yellow fever (67.7%), indicating that a significant part of its inhabitants are at high risk.

An entity of the HIM-HER-IT dedicated to humanitarian aid reported in January 2020 the first case of yellow fever in Venezuela in fourteen years.