Colombia has declared a national emergency after a deadly outbreak of yellow fever claimed the lives of at least 34 people, prompting both health and economic action from the government.
Health Minister Guillermo Jaramillo confirmed that 74 cases have been recorded so far in 2025, with the virus showing an alarming fatality rate of nearly 50%. He made this known in an interview with Radio Nacional de Colombia, emphasizing that the disease has now spread beyond rural areas and poses a growing threat to more communities.
One of the worst-affected regions is Tolima, a major coffee-producing zone, where confirmed cases spiked from four in September 2024 to 22 by mid-April 2025.
To curb the spread, authorities will now require travelers entering or leaving Colombia to present a yellow fever vaccination card. The public is also being advised to avoid traveling to high-risk areas during the Easter season unless they are vaccinated.
President Gustavo Petro also declared an economic emergency to strengthen the country’s response. In a message posted on Facebook, he warned citizens not to visit the coffee region if they haven’t been vaccinated.
He further blamed climate change for the crisis, saying it has allowed the virus-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to thrive in higher altitudes where they previously couldn’t survive.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has raised its yellow fever alert for South America to level two, citing a rise in infections in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru. The CDC is advising travelers to get vaccinated or take booster shots before visiting affected areas.
Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne virus that can lead to severe symptoms including fever, muscle pain, and headaches. In some cases, it can be fatal.
For more international health updates and breaking news, stay connected with NIGPOST. Don’t forget to share this story and follow us for real-time alerts.
Leave a Reply