WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) – The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Monday issued a new epidemiological alert in response to an increase in yellow fever cases across the Americas during the first months of 2025.

It said that the number of confirmed human cases as of March 22 has more than doubled compared to the total recorded in all of 2024, raising concerns about a potential expansion of the disease.

Initial symptoms of yellow fever can include fever, chills, severe headache, back pain, general body aches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and weakness. Severe symptoms include high fever, yellow skin or eyes (jaundice), bleeding, shock, and organ failure.

PAHO said that in the first almost three months of this year, 131 human cases have been confirmed, with 53 deaths as compared with 61 cases were reported throughout last year, 30 of which were fatal.

PAHO said that particularly concerning are the new cases reported since October 2024 in the department of Tolima, Colombia, which indicates the virus is appearing in areas not previously affected in past years.

“In these regions, activities such as agriculture represent a risk factor for exposure to the virus. The increase in cases and their geographic spread highlights the urgent need to strengthen surveillance, prevention, and control measures to contain the disease.”

In addition, the epidemiological situation in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with 34 cases and 19 deaths, is worrying due to its proximity to densely populated urban centers, increasing the risk of a larger outbreak, it added.

While the figures released by PAHO did not include any Caribbean country, it warned nonetheless that yellow fever is a serious viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, which can be fatal but is preventable through vaccination.

It said the vast majority of the cases detected have involved individuals who were not vaccinated.

PAHO has since called for intensifying vaccination efforts in at-risk areas, aiming for coverage rates above 95 per cent.

“Vaccination is the most effective tool to combat the disease. PAHO also recommends that countries review their vaccine stocks, ensure rapid response plans for outbreaks, and make sure travelers to endemic areas are informed and vaccinated.”

It said since the yellow fever epidemic in Brazil between 2016 and 2018, the public health threat of the disease has resurfaced in the Americas.

“The yellow fever virus remains in a sylvatic cycle between specific species of mosquitoes and non-human primates in 13 countries and territories of the region. Since 1960, it has caused 9,591 human cases and 3,444 deaths.”

PAHO said in February, based on the increase in cases across several countries during the last months of 2024 and the first weeks of 2025, it published a risk assessment in which it considered the risk of yellow fever outbreaks in the region to be high.

“PAHO will continue to monitor the situation and support countries in adopting the best strategies for preventing and controlling yellow fever,” the UN organisation said.