Talking Points: Yellow Fever in Brazil (March 24, 2017)
Talking Points – Yellow Fever in Brazil
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The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and clients when discussing the recent outbreak of yellow fever and travel to Brazil. (March 24, 2017)
1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its Level 2 Alert for Brazil, due to an ongoing outbreak of yellow fever. While the CDC does not warn against travel to Brazil, it recommends travelers should practice enhanced precautions.
2. There are basic precautions travelers can follow to limit their possible exposure while traveling in Brazil.
3. We are here to assist our clients; the safety and well-being of our clients is our top priority.
Below you will find additional information, supporting material, and statistics supporting each talking point.
1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its Level 2 Alert for Brazil, due to an ongoing outbreak of yellow fever. While the CDC does not warn against travel to Brazil, it recommends travelers should practice enhanced precautions.
Brazil’s outbreak of yellow fever began in December 2016, and fatalities have occurred as a result of the disease.
o The CDC’s Alert – Level 2 says that the states of Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and numerous parts of the southern and southeastern areas of the state of Bahia.
It is important to note that although the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paola have been affected by the yellow fever outbreak, the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are not part of this warning. Niterói (State of Rio de Janeiro) and Campinas (State of São Paulo) have also not experienced any outbreak of yellow fever.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the areas where yellow fever is affecting Brazil is expanding.
o “As of 16 March 2017, confirmed cases of yellow fever virus infection in humans were reported in Rio de Janeiro State, and epizootics [an epidemic-like disease event in an animal population] and human cases are under investigation for yellow fever virus infection in São Paulo State. These reports are consistent with the increased yellow fever activity observed in other States (Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais) that share the same ecosystem — tropical and sub-tropical broad leaved forests.”
o “As of 16 March 2017, yellow fever virus transmission continues to expand towards the Atlantic coast of Brazil in areas not deemed to be at risk for yellow fever transmission prior to the revised risk assessment.”
Yellow fever is spread by infected mosquitos and is typically found in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and Africa.
o It is a virus that usually causes symptoms 3-6 days after exposure.
o Symptoms include fever, chills, and head, back and muscle aches.
o Complications occur in about 15% of those afflicted, and can lead to organ failure and death.
The State of Rio de Janeiro will vaccinate all of its population, according to Deutsche Welle. The government plans for this to be done by the end of 2017.
o Due to the vaccine shortage, “Brazil, in the grips of an unusually large yellow fever outbreak, has asked for millions of doses of vaccine from an international emergency stockpile. The body that maintains and manages the stockpile, the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision, has approved the release of more than 3.5 million doses of the vaccine, according to the Brazilian office of the Pan American Health Organization.” (Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report)
The Los Angeles Times reported that the sudden spread of yellow fever in Brazil and shortages of the vaccine is causing concern.
o “Doctors in the United States should be asking for travel histories from any patients who turn up after a brief, mild illness appeared to go away, but was quickly followed by the hallmark symptoms of yellow fever’s “intoxication stage” — high fevers, internal bleeding, severe liver dysfunction and jaundice (hence the name “yellow fever”), kidney failure, cardiovascular abnormalities, central nervous system dysfunction and shock.”
o “It’s a perilous moment, made more so by the fact that, while an effective vaccine against yellow fever has been around since 1937, worldwide stockpiles are all but depleted. In a series of yellow fever outbreaks in Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo two years ago, public health officials ran so short of the vaccine that they resorted to giving each person one-fifth of a dose.”
2. There are basic precautions travelers can follow to limit their possible exposure while traveling in Brazil.
Fortunately, there is a vaccine available for yellow fever.
o Due to the yellow fever vaccine shortage, anyone planning to travel to Brazil should consult their physician as soon as they can. The vaccine must be given 10 days before arrival in Brazil.
o All persons over the age of nine months should receive the vaccine when planning on traveling to an area with yellow fever.
o Normally, one dose of yellow fever vaccine per lifetime is sufficient.
o Travelers should consult their physician to see if they need a booster dose if they have previously been vaccinated, and are going to a high risk area.
Since yellow fever is spread via mosquitoes, preventing their bites can help protect against yellow fever. The CDC recommends:
o Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants.
o Use an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), IR3535, or 2-undecanone (methyl nonyl ketone).
o If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
o Use permethrin-treated (clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents).
o Stay and sleep in screened or air conditioned rooms.
o Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.
3. We are here to assist our clients; the safety and well-being of our clients is our top priority.
We would not send our clients to a particular destination if we believe it to be unsafe. Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel there and provide detailed information on the situation so they can make informed decisions for themselves if they still wish to travel.
We strongly encourage all of our clients, whether they are traveling domestically or internationally, to purchase travel insurance, particularly right at the same time as travel has been booked. Travel insurance offers an additional layer of protection for travelers and can potentially help save a traveler hundreds or thousands of dollars if a medical or travel emergency occurs.
We are advocates for our clients; and they know that by working with a true travel professional, we are there for them before, during, and after their trip should they need us – which gives them peace of mind.
By working with a trusted travel professional, we can provide providing alternative travel arrangements should the need arise.
Our business is founded on repeat customers. Therefore, we want to be sure everything goes off without a hitch.