Yellow fever alert

Since the beginning of 2009, there has been an expansion in areas of yellow fever virus transmission in Brazil. Two states, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paolo, have recently designated expanded areas of risk following confirmation of new human cases of yellow fever within their boundaries. This demonstrates the particular intensity of yellow fever virus activity in the southern part of the country. Since mid December 2008, the state of Rio Grande do Sul, on the southern tip of Brazil, reported 18 confirmed human cases of yellow fever infection. Seven of these people died. This is the first time since 1966 that human yellow fever cases have been reported in Rio Grande do Sul. In response to the situation, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has added a number of municipalities to the yellow fever risk area for this state, which now includes the state capital city of Porto Alegre.