Argentina: yellow fever update

In the News: Yellow Fever in Argentina (current as of March 20, 2008)

On March 3, 2008, the Argentina Ministry of Health (MOH) reported their first official human case of yellow fever for 2008 in Misiones Province. On February 4, 2008, the Argentina MOH had confirmed the death of one of 17 monkeys due to yellow fever disease, which occurred in Piñalito Park, San Pedro Department, Misiones Province, in the northeastern corner of Argentina, bordered by Brazil and Paraguay. In response, Argentina MOH officials are increasing yellow fever vaccination in humans living in the surrounding areas. Since late 2007, emerging yellow fever disease has been reported in monkeys and humans from many South American countries. For reports of geographic expansion of yellow fever in other South American countries, please see CDC’s outbreak notices about yellow fever in Brazil and Paraguay.

Recommendations for Travelers: Travelers are strongly advised to follow the existing CDC yellow fever vaccination recommendations for Argentina:

Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for all travelers older than 9 months who are going to the northern and northeastern forested areas of Argentina, including Iguaçu Falls, all parts of Misiones Province, and all areas bordering Paraguay and Brazil (see Map 4-16).

The complications from yellow fever vaccine are greater for certain groups of people, such as those younger than 9 months or older than 60 years, pregnant women, and those whose immune systems are compromised. For more information about these and other yellow fever vaccine precautions and contraindications, please see the Prevention information in the Yellow Fever section of CDC Health Information for International Travel 2008. These travelers (or their parents) should discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination for travel to this area of Argentina with their physicians.

Since yellow fever is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, travelers are also reminded to:

Use insect repellent on exposed skin surfaces when outdoors, particularly during the day.

Repellents containing 30% to 50% DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are recommended for adults. Lower concentrations of DEET offer shorter-term protection and require more frequent reapplication.

Repellents containing picaridin are available in the United States in formulations of up to 15% concentration, which require frequent reapplication. Repellents with higher concentrations of picaridin may be available in some regions outside the United States.

For additional information regarding the use of repellent on infants and children, please see the “Insect and Other Arthropod Protection” in Traveling Safely with Infants and Children and the “Children” section of CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions about Repellent Use.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors. Clothing may also be sprayed with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent for greater protection. (Remember: don't use permethrin on skin.)

Additional Information: For more information about the emerging yellow fever situation in South America, see the following announcements:
Notice from the Argentina Ministry of Health dated March 3, 2008: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/forward.aspx?t=http://www.msal.gov.ar/htm/Site/noticias_plantilla.asp?Id=1201

Update from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) dated February 11, 2008: Jungle Yellow Fever (JYF) in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina

For more information about yellow fever risk and yellow fever vaccine, see the following sections of CDC Health Information for International Travel 2008:
Yellow fever (including precautions and contraindications to vaccine)
Yellow Fever Vaccine Requirements and Information on Malaria Risk and Prophylaxis, by Country

CDC info: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentYellowFeverArgentina.aspx