Following two deaths from yellow fever that occurred in the Federal District of Brasilia and the state of Goias, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has issued a statement alerting foreigners and travellers to obtain yellow fever vaccination before arriving in Brazil. The ministry has advised foreign travellers to be vaccinated at least ten days before their arrival.
For information, Brasilia is a Federal District located in Central Brazil. One of the victims was a resident of Brasilia who travelled to the countryside area of Pirinopolis in Goias state. Upon return to the capital, he was diagnosed with yellow fever and later died of complications resulting from the disease. The other reported death was in Goiania, state capital of Goias. The Ministry reported that several other persons have been hospitalized in the state with symptoms of yellow fever and that state authorities have been put on the alert.
The Brazilian Health ministry is carrying out vaccinations against yellow fever to citizens and visitors to the Federal District of Brasilia and Goais, as well as neighboring states. In Brasilia , it is reported that thousands went to public health clinics to receive the vaccination.