Since last December, more than 1,300 people have been infected with the virus and 255 have died. The epidemic is affecting regions that had hitherto been spared.
The yellow fever epidemic raging in Brazil worries local and international authorities. So much so that the Brazilian health ministry has announced that it has ordered more than 12 million doses of vaccine to strengthen its fight against this infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It plans that in 2017 the entire population of the state of Rio de Janeiro will be vaccinated. A statement that follows the first death linked to yellow fever in this state, which has more than 16 million inhabitants.
Since the outbreak declared last December, more than 1,300 confirmed or suspected cases have been reported, of which 255 have died, the World Health Organization reported in its March 16 bulletin. The latter indicates that the death rate is 36% among confirmed cases and 12% among suspected cases.
For now, the epidemic seems to be particularly affected the state of Minas Gerais located not far from Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo and São Paulo in the south-east of the country. Regions that had not experienced an epidemic for years.
Vulnerable populations
Epidemiological data also indicate that the spread of the disease accelerates between mid-February and mid-March in these regions. For the UN agency, it is possible that the cycle of transmission of the virus has changed. Experts assume that new species of mosquito are participating in the epidemic. They also do not rule out the role played by infected monkeys. Mosquitoes feed on this animal as well as on humans, which increases the risk of contamination.
For its part, the Brazilian Ministry of Health adds that in these states the population is not vaccinated since little confronted with this virus. An absence of protection which favored the epidemic. With this dozen million doses ordered, especially in France, the Brazilian authorities hope to stop the transmission of the virus.
Each year in the world, some 200,000 cases of yellow fever are recorded, and 30,000 deaths are attributed to it. It starts with a fever, chills, headaches and body aches. Symptoms similar to the flu or dengue fever. In severe forms, jaundice appears accompanied by vomiting of blackish blood; death occurs in 50 to 80% after a coma. There is no specific treatment. Yellow fever survivors are immune for life.
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