Yellow fever: WHO draws attention to vaccination after Venezuela outbreak – News

The World Health Organization announced, Thursday (14), the detection of an outbreak of yellow fever disease in Venezuela, where seven cases were confirmed by laboratory tests between September 23 and 24. Of the cases, six patients were not vaccinated against the disease.

Faced with the risks of a health crisis, in a country whose health system is weakened due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the World Health Organization has indicated that it is necessary to increase vaccination coverage against yellow fever, especially in the Amazon region, due to exposure to the mosquitoes that transmit the disease.

The organization also recommended increased vaccination among indigenous people, migrants and vulnerable people who live in densely populated urban areas with greater potential for exposure to mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti.

“The reported cases of yellow fever demonstrate the importance of vaccination against the disease, especially in high-risk endemic areas, with favorable ecosystems for transmission,” the World Health Organization said in a statement.

Another recommendation was that people intending to travel to Venezuela be vaccinated at least ten days prior to their arrival in the country. The immunizing agent is included in the list of effective and safe medicines prepared by the World Health Organization and in a single dose guarantees lifelong protection.

The agency has not suggested any restrictions on travel or trade with Venezuela, due to the information obtained so far.

The infection likely occurred in a rural area, south of the municipality of Maturín, in the state of Monagas, in northeastern Venezuela. The first reported case was of a young pregnant woman with a history of yellow fever vaccination.

So far, the outbreak has not resulted in any deaths and has left three patients asymptomatic. Four other people experienced symptoms such as headaches, eye pain, skin irritation and joint pain.

In the region, the World Health Organization reports a low yellow fever vaccination rate, 67.7%, which represents a high risk of infection. In January last year, the agency reported the first case of the disease in Venezuela after 14 years.