La reemergencia de la fiebre amarilla en Venezuela.
The reemergence of yellow fever in Venezuela
Abstract
The reemergence of yellow fever in Venezuela poses a critical threat to the region’s health security. After years of control, the persistent crisis has shifted surveillance from proactive to reactive. As of May 2026, official public health agencies report at least 40 human cases and 21 confirmed deaths, corresponding to a case fatality rate exceeding 50%. In addition to the inherent predisposing factors of arboviruses, increasing human mobility without adequate protection in jungle areas and the accumulation of susceptible, unvaccinated individuals are identified as key determinants. The epidemiological impact shows a notable demographic bias, predominantly affecting young men of working age (57.5% of cases), which exacerbates the socioeconomic consequences of this outbreak. Furthermore, ongoing enzootic and epizootic circulation of the virus, both in known hotspots and in border areas and regions previously considered low-risk, indicates a high potential for expansion. Under the One Health approach, given active viral circulation, it is imperative to reinstate vaccination protocols to close susceptibility gaps in rural and peri-urban regions that have not yet
achieved the recommended immunization coverage, thereby completely blocking transmission and preventing the urban cycle. Similarly, it is necessary to optimize diagnostic turnaround times, strengthen entomological and ecological surveillance, bolster international cooperation to reduce the risk of spread to neighboring countries, provide timely alerts about epizootics, and issue travel protection recommendations.
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References
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