Situation Information

The Brazilian Ministry of Health (MOH) has recently announced changes to its areas of risk for yellow fever transmission and vaccination recommendations.  The southern, coastal area of Bahia state and the northern, coastal area of Espiritu Santo are no longer considered risk areas for yellow fever transmission, while the yellow fever risk areas have expanded in the states of São Paulo and Paraná.

As of November 2008, Brazil now recommends yellow fever vaccination for travelers to the following states: All areas of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Distrito Federal (including the capital city of Brasília), Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins, and designated areas of the following states: northwest and west Bahia, central and west Paraná, southwest Piauí, northwest and west central Rio Grande do Sul, far west Santa Catarina, and north and west São Paulo.

For a map of the areas of Brazil with risk for yellow fever transmission, see the updated Yellow Fever vaccination recommendations map from the Ministry of Health in Brazil.  Please note that the risk areas are shaded in green.

Recommendations for Travelers

Brazil currently does not require yellow fever vaccination for entrance into the country. However, travelers are strongly urged to get the yellow fever vaccine before traveling to an area of Brazil with risk of yellow fever transmission.  For additional information, see CDC yellow fever vaccination recommendations for Brazil.

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

• When outdoors or in a building that is not well screened, use insect repellent on uncovered skin. Always apply sunscreen before insect repellent.
  • Look for a repellent that contains one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin (KBR 3023), Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus/PMD, or IR3535. Always follow the instructions on the label when you use the repellent.
     
  • In general, repellents protect longer against mosquito bites when they have a higher concentration (%) of the active ingredient. However, concentrations above 50% do not offer a marked increase in protection time. Products with less than 10% of an active ingredient may offer only limited protection, often just 1-2 hours.
     
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics approves the use of repellents with up to 30% DEET on children over 2 months old.
     
  • Protect babies less than 2 months old by using a carrier draped with mosquito netting with an elastic edge for a tight fit.
     
  • For more information about the use of repellent on infants and children, please see the “Insect and Other Arthropod Protection” section in Traveling Safely with Infants and Children in CDC Health Information for International Travel 2008 and the “Children” section of CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions about Repellent Use.
     
  • For more information on the use of insect repellents, visit Insect and Arthropod Protection in CDC Health Information for International Travel 2008.
     
• Wear loose, 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.)

Visit the Brazil destination page on the CDC Travelers’ Health website for information about other steps to take to ensure a safe and healthy trip to Brazil.

Additional Information

For more information about yellow fever risk and yellow fever vaccine, see the Yellow fever section of CDC Health Information for International Travel 2008.

For more information about yellow fever risk areas in Brazil, see the latest World Health Organization notice: Brazil – Yellow Fever.