Health

Yellow Fever Outbreak in Colombia: Health and Economic Emergency Declared

Published

1 day ago

18/04/2025

Colombia has declared both a health and economic emergency following a deadly yellow fever outbreak that has claimed dozens of lives.

Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated, especially as the Easter travel season begins.

Yellow fever is a serious disease spread by mosquitoes. It can cause high fever, muscle pain, headaches, nausea, and in severe cases, can be fatal. The disease is common in several South American countries, including Colombia.

Since the start of 2025, at least 34 people have died out of 74 confirmed cases, according to Colombia’s Health Minister, Guillermo Jaramillo. “It’s a disease with a mortality rate of nearly 50% among those infected,” Jaramillo said during an interview with Radio Nacional de Colombia.

The virus has now moved beyond its usual locations in rural areas, increasing the risk for more communities. The Tolima region, known for coffee production, is currently the most affected area. In Tolima, the number of yellow fever cases jumped from 4 in September 2024 to 22 by mid-April 2025.

To control the spread, the government will now require vaccination cards for anyone entering or leaving the country.

President Gustavo Petro has added an economic emergency to the health decree and is urging citizens to avoid traveling to high-risk areas unless they are vaccinated. “People who have not been vaccinated should not go to high-risk areas during Easter: for now, the coffee area,” Petro said in a Facebook post.

He also blamed climate change for the growing spread of the disease. Warmer temperatures are allowing Aedes aegypti mosquitoes—the ones that spread yellow fever—to survive at higher altitudes where they were not commonly found before.

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has raised its yellow fever alert for South America to level two out of four. This means travelers should be more cautious and consider getting vaccinated or a booster shot before visiting countries like Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia.

Health authorities are asking people in Colombia and travelers to: Get vaccinated against yellow fever if you haven’t already, carry your vaccination card when traveling, avoid visiting high-risk areas like Tolima, especially during the Easter holidays and use mosquito repellent and wear protective clothing.

With this yellow fever outbreak in Colombia growing quickly, officials are working to contain the disease and protect more communities from infection. Vaccination remains the best protection, and the public is being urged to act quickly to stay safe.