Yellow fever cases in Colombia
The Department of Health in Colombia has reported 12 cases of yellow fever in the department of Tolima. Tolima is in the Andean region of Colombia and the cases come from 5 areas in the east and southeast of the department. Five fatalities have been confirmed.
The outbreak is thought to be sylvatic in that it is focused in forested rather than urban areas. This has generally been the case in South America over the last few years. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes among non-human primates and humans are occasional hosts when they travel into these areas.
A major yellow fever vaccination program is being undertaken in the region. The concern is for an infected individual returning to an urban area where the yellow fever transmitting mosquitoes (aedes egypti) are found. Many more cases might occur in an unvaccinated population.
The yellow fever vaccination (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.
