Yellow Fever in South America

Level 4 - Avoid All Travel
Level 3 - Reconsider Nonessential Travel
Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions
Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions
Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for South America
Yellow fever vaccine recommendations for South America (View larger)
What is yellow fever?

Yellow fever is a severe viral disease with jaundice and hemorrhagic manifestations that is spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

Yellow fever vaccine is the best protection against this disease. Travelers to areas where vaccination is recommended should be vaccinated at least 10 days before travel. Preventing mosquito bites is also important.

Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches, and develop 3–6 days after infection. About 15% of people infected with yellow fever virus will develop severe illness that can lead to liver disease, bleeding, shock, organ failure, yellowing skin and eyes (jaundice), and sometimes death.

Diagnosis is based on symptoms, laboratory testing, and travel history. There are no medications to treat or cure yellow fever.

Key points

  • An increased number of cases of yellow fever have been reported in parts of South America.
  • Some of these cases have been reported in new areas in Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru that border areas where vaccination has historically been recommended (see map). Travelers to these newly affected areas (see map) are now recommended to get vaccinated.
  • A booster dose may be given to certain travelers or travelers who received their last dose of yellow fever vaccine at least 10 years previously and who will be in a higher-risk setting, such as areas in South America where cases have been reported.
  • Travelers getting vaccinated should:
    • Get vaccinated at least 10 days before travel.
    • Contact a yellow fever vaccine provider well in advance of travel. Not all providers carry yellow fever vaccine.
    • Talk with a healthcare professional if they have questions about yellow fever vaccine. Yellow fever vaccine is not recommended for some people.
  • Travelers to any affected areas should take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
  • Travelers should seek medical care if they develop fever, chills, headache, backache, or muscle aches, during or after travel in an affected area. Travelers should let their healthcare professional know that they’ve been to an area where yellow fever cases are reported.

Traveler Information

Clinician Information