Colombia: 2025+ Yellow Fever

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj68x4p412eo

Colombia declares health emergency after dozens die of yellow fever
12 hours ago
Vanessa Buschschlüter
BBC News​

Colombia has declared a nationwide health emergency after at least 34 people died of yellow fever, according to official figures.

Yellow fever is caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It can be prevented by a vaccine which in most cases provides lifelong protection.

The government has urged people to get vaccinated ahead of the Easter weekend, a time when many Colombians travel to warmer areas where the mosquitos that spread the disease are more prevalent.

Health Minister Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo said those going to high-risk areas would be required to show proof of vaccination.

The health minister said that there had been 74 confirmed cases of yellow fever in Colombia so far during this outbreak and urged people to get the vaccine, which in Colombia is free of charge.

The number of cases reported is much higher than in recent years.

In 2023, there were only two cases, and there were none from 2019 to 2022, according to figures published by the ministry of health.

Mr Jaramillo told Colombian radio station RCN that the current outbreak had been particularly lethal "with a mortality rate of nearly 50% among those infected".

Many of the yellow fever cases were clustered in the eastern part of Tolima province.

The area is known for its coffee plantations and beautiful landscapes and is popular with both national and international tourists.​..

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://latinamericareports.com/how-colombia-is-responding-to-a-deadly-yellow-fever-outbreak/11455/

How Colombia is responding to a deadly Yellow Fever outbreak
By Alfie Pannell May 9, 2025​

Bogotá, Colombia — Colombian authorities are trying to contain a Yellow Fever Outbreak following President Gustavo Petro’s declaration of a health emergency on April 15.

The Pan American Health Organization recorded twice as many cases in the Americas in the first three months of 2025 compared to all of 2024, noting a “particularly concerning” situation in Tolima, Colombia.

Since September 2024, Colombia has recorded 85 cases and 38 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health, representing a 44% mortality rate. In comparison, 2023 saw only two cases in the country while none were recorded between 2019 and 2022.

In the same period since the outbreak began, 78% of confirmed Yellow Fever cases have been in Tolima, which has registered 67 incidents of infection and 25 deaths.

Speaking to Latin America Reports, Tolima’s Health Secretary, Katheirne Rengifo, explained the department’s response plan which follows multiple “strategic lines.” The first of these entails a mass vaccination campaign...
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[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.vax-before-travel.com/2...r-fatalities-grip-colombia-vaccinations-urged

Yellow Fever Fatalities Grip Colombia, Vaccinations Urged
July 26, 2025 • 7:54 am CDT​

PAHO July 26, 2025
(Vax-Before-Travel News)

As millions of international travelers visit countries in South America, a mosquito-transmitted killer is devastating the Republic of Colombia in 2025.

As of July 23, 2025, the country has confirmed 103 cases of Yellow fever, resulting in 37 deaths, a staggering 36% fatality rate that underscores the virus's lethal potential.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) previously sounded the alarm with a regional alert, warning that Yellow fever continues to pose a grave threat across the Americas.​..

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.vax-before-travel.com/2...firmed-during-colombias-yellow-fever-outbreak

53 Fatalities Confirmed During Colombia's Yellow Fever Outbreak
August 4, 2025 • 3:30 pm CDT​
(Vax-Before-Travel News)

In 2025, Brazil remains the leading country in the Americas for reported yellow fever cases. However, the Republic of Colombia has confirmed a significant outbreak since 2024

By July 31, 2025, Colombia reported in a post on Facebook a total of 125 confirmed cases of yellow fever (YF), resulting in 53 deaths.

Most of these YF cases were concentrated in the Tolima Department, which accounted for 105 cases and 38 deaths.​..

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://colombiaone.com/2026/01/30/yellow-fever-colombia-alert/

Colombia Issues Yellow Fever Alert After Deadly Outbreak
By jhoanbaron
January 30, 2026​

Colombia has activated a yellow fever alert after registering 11 human cases and 10 deaths in the first weeks of the year, all among unvaccinated people. The country is now ordering targeted booster shots and urging citizens not to delay vaccination in endemic and high‑risk areas.​..

...In Colombia, 2026 began with 11 laboratory‑confirmed human cases and 10 deaths, all in people who had never been vaccinated against yellow fever. At the same time, health surveillance has recorded 78 epizootics (animal version of an epidemic) in non‑human primates between 2025 and January 2026, mainly in Tolima, Huila and Putumayo, clear signs of active viral circulation in ecosystems shared with nearby communities.​

Worth noting is that Tolima now concentrates the highest number of cases and deaths, prompting intensified vaccination, vector control and risk communication in municipalities such as Cunday, Villarrica, Purificación, Prado, Chaparral, Ataco and Planadas. These territories, with warm climates and fragmented forests, represent the type of high‑risk environment described in recent outbreak analyses for the region.​..

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.elnuevodia.com.co/tolima/tolima-reporta-29-casos-de-fiebre-amarilla-y-14-muertes-534622

Toima Reports 29 Yellow Fever Cases and 14 Deaths
Created by Tolima Newsroom
February 7, 2026 - 10:03 AM

Tolima is under a health alert after 29 cases of yellow fever were confirmed between December 2025 and January 2026, resulting in 14 deaths, as reported by Governor Adriana Matiz from the municipality of Ataco. The figure demonstrates a high mortality rate associated with the disease and has triggered prevention protocols.

The governor explained that the territory historically had no record of yellow fever, making the outbreak an unusual phenomenon. According to epidemiological monitoring, the initial focus is believed to be the Galilea Forest in Villarrica, eastern Tolima, from where the virus has spread to other areas, with a particular impact in southern Tolima.

Environmental Surveillance and Early Warning Signs

Governor Adriana Matiz highlighted the collaborative work with the Tolima Regional Autonomous Corporation (Cortolima), which monitors the virus's circulation by identifying epizootics—the death of primates that serve as early biological indicators. Seven such events were reported in Ataco alone, allowing authorities to anticipate the risk of transmission to humans.

Vaccination, the Main Prevention Measure

Given the current situation, the governor emphasized that vaccination is the most effective tool for preventing deaths from yellow fever. She made an urgent appeal to the public to get vaccinated and clarified that the vaccine can be administered to individuals as young as nine months old, including seniors and pregnant women, dispelling myths about supposed restrictions.

Health authorities reiterated that timely prevention and vaccination coverage are key to containing the outbreak, especially in the municipalities where active clusters have been identified. The official message is clear: immunization saves lives and is essential to curbing the spread of the virus.​