State of emergency in Brazil for yellow fever

belo horizonte - In the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais the state of emergency has been declared because of a deadly outbreak of yellow fever. The tropical disease has cost the lives of at least fifteen people since December.

The state of emergency applies for six months and makes it easier for local authorities to take health measures. Vaccination programs have also been set up in other parts of the country. According to the Brazilian Minister of Health, half of the residents in the state of São Paulo must be vaccinated next month.

The World Health Organization advised last week that travelers to Brazil should vaccinate at least ten days in advance. A 46-year-old Dutchman became infected in Mairiporã early this year, a town north of São Paulo. He was treated in Rotterdam and has since been recovered, the Erasmus MC reported on Wednesday. It was only the second time since 1985 that yellow fever was diagnosed in the Netherlands.

One in ten patients dies from the tropical disease that is spread by the mosquito. Yellow fever is not transferable from human to human.