The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) provides an annual update on the status of yellow fever in the Americas. Their recent update raises some concern.
According to their report, published 13 March 2026, there have been 346 notifications of yellow fever during 2025 to the first week in 2026. Seven countries have been affected. These include Brazil (120), Colombia (125), Venezuela (32), Bolivia (8), Ecuador (11), Guyana (1) and Peru (49). There have been 143 deaths.
This is a high case-fatality rate (41%).
A further 46 cases have been reported to week 11 of 2026. In 2024 there were just 61 cases reported.
For our earlier coverage, see Yellow Fever 2025 – Updated situation in South America.
A significant increase in notifications
Yellow Fever has been a notifiable disease for a very long time. Records are available back to the 1960's. Notifications were high in 1966 (304 cases), 2017 (832 cases), and 2018 (1328 cases).
Cases reported in a wider geographical area
Travel health advice for the Americas is often focused on whether an individual is travelling in forested areas of the Amazonas. According to this report, human cases are now being observed in a wider geographical area. Special mention has been made of regions in Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela.
The full report is available at: Epidemiological Alert Yellow fever in the Americas Region
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Yellow Fever vaccination
The yellow fever vaccine (Stamaril in Australia) is a live attenuated vaccine which provides highly effective and durable immunity for life with a single dose.
The vaccine provides immunity within 10 days of vaccination for 80 – 100% of people vaccinated, and 99% of people within 30 days.
The lifetime recommendation came into effect in July 2016. This was for new and existing certificates. It was previously considered a 10-year vaccine.
Beyond vaccination – outbreak control strategies
While vaccination continues to be a key element in reducing the risk of epidemics, it cannot be seen as the sole strategy. Outbreaks in Angola and Brazil in 2016 and 2017 are good examples of how the disease can easily spill over into urban areas resulting in large numbers of cases and many deaths. Environmental strategies must also play a role.
WHO's global strategy to eliminate yellow fever epidemics (EYE 2017-2026) can be sourced at: Routine vaccination coverage – worldwide, 2024 M. Carolina Danovaro
Check your Australian Immunisation Record
The Australian Immunisation Record (AIR) may not reflect the full immunisation profile of an individual born before 1998. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it possible for all immunisations given to be recorded on the individuals Medicare record. If you have an International Vaccination card for Yellow Fever Vaccination it is strongly recommended that you ask your health provider to manually update your whole of life record. This helps to store the batch number which is vital should a new certificate be required.
If the card is lost it is often difficult to retrieve original records, should you be travelling to an area where yellow fever certification is requested. You may still be protected by the vaccine, but you lack the certification.
