Rare Paraguay yellow fever outbreak prompts vaccine demand

In over 220 posts in the 24-month history of this site, we haven't mentioned yellow fever once, a disease and a vaccine that, in the United States, are largely limited to historical narratives featuring Walter Reed or requirements for international travel. In parts of Central and South America and Africa, however, the disease is still a very real health threat. In Paraguay this week, the first yellow fever outbreak there in over 30 years has prompted the rapid delivery of several hundred thousand vaccine doses from countries throughout Latin America.

As this AP story reports, Brazil, Peru, and other countries have committed to deliver vaccine supplies to Paraguay to assist vaccination efforts in effected areas. (Public demand for the vaccine has led to street protests, according to many reports.) This ABC News (Australia) story notes that one death and 10 other cases of the mosquito-transmitted disease have been confirmed to date. This Guardian story adds that 30,000 deaths are caused by yellow fever annually, according to WHO.

More information about yellow fever and the vaccine available against it can be found at this CDC site and this WHO site.