Notice: Yellow fever Outbreak, Colombia
(Updated January 23, 2004; Released October 23, 2003)

On January 22, 2004 , the Colombian Ministry of Social Protection reported 16 new confirmed cases of yellow fever and 8 deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 27 since December 28, 2003 . In addition, there are several hospitalized patients with suspected yellow fever who recently visited Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta , a popular tourist area along the Caribbean coast. One of the eight reported deaths was a 16-year-old boy who had visited Tayrona Park , also on the Caribbean coast.

Beginning in July 2003, there was an outbreak of yellow fever in five Latin America countries, including Colombia . That outbreak began to wane in mid-November; however, in the last two weeks of December, new cases were identified in the Colombian departments of Guajira, Magdalena , and Cesar; departments where Sierra Nevada and Tyrona parks are located. All three departments are located in historically endemic areas of the country. In addition, on January 8, 2004 , the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) confirmed the presence of a yellow fever epizootic among monkeys in Los Bestos Ecological Park, in Cesar, Colombia . The government of Colombia, with assistance from PAHO, has responded to the outbreak by conducting a mass vaccination campaign, instituting vector control measures, and establishing a national public information hotline.

Yellow fever is a serious mosquito-borne disease that can be fatal. It occurs only in sub-Saharan Africa (see map) and certain areas of tropical South America (see map) . CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination for most travelers (see precautions and contraindications ) to yellow fever-endemic countries in Africa or areas in South America in the endemic zone. Proof of vaccination is required for entry into certain countries (see http://www.cdc.gov/travel/vaccinations/cert-requirements2.htm ). The International Health Regulations require revaccination at 10-year intervals if traveling to these areas.

For more information on yellow fever, see

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/yellowfever.htm

For information on ACIP 2002 recommendations for yellow fever vaccine, see

• Recommendations:
  http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5117a1.htm
• Appendix Waiver Letters from Physicians: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5117a2.htm

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This page last reviewed January 23, 2004

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