Latin Analysis: Yellow Fever Returns to South America Sparking New Health Measures In Ecuador
Agencia Press South
Political discourse is once again being dominated by talks concerning masks and vaccinations in Ecuador. However, this time the concern is not Covid-19, but the return of yellow fever in South America.
Following an epidemiological alert caused by a rise in cases of yellow fever and whooping cough in Ecuador, the government have had to act. The Ecuadorian authorities have made mask-wearing in schools compulsory in certain states, with the Health and Education ministries working in tandem to prevent widespread transmission of these diseases. These measures include medical brigades, an expanded Yellow Fever vaccination campaign, as well as requirements for travelers entering Ecuador from neighboring countries such as Colombia and Peru. The few recently recorded cases of yellow fever that have appeared in Ecuador have all been concentrated in the Amazonian provinces, with the government keen to emphasize that this is not an epidemic. Rather, Ecuador’s health minister, Edgar Lama, explained that “[w]hat we are talking about is to prevent the existence of an epidemic, and that is why we must act very aggressively and decisively.”
Yellow fever is “an epidemic-prone mosquito-borne vaccine preventable disease that is transmitted to humans by the bites of infected mosquitoes”. These mosquitos usually breed around houses or in tropical environments such as jungles (with some types found in both habitats). Yellow fever is considered a ‘high-impact high-threat disease’ due to its communicability and the risk of international spread, which could spell trouble on an international scale. Normally, sufferers of yellow fever do not experience many symptoms, with some common symptoms including fever, aches, nausea, and loss of appetite. However, these are usually gone after a few days. However, in some cases, yellow fever patients can enter a second, more ‘toxic’ phase, affecting body systems. This can be fatal; around half of those who enter this phase die within 7-10 days. There is no specific drug available to treat yellow fever, with vaccinations still the best way to prevent the disease, providing life-long protection against the disease within a month of receiving it.
Thus, Ecuador’s government is keen to get more people vaccinated against this disease as soon as possible, given that the majority of the recorded yellow fever cases in 2024 were unvaccinated. To that end, the Ministry for Health has set up several yellow fever vaccination centers throughout Ecuador. However, the administration’s efforts to suppress the spread of yellow fever have not only been on preventing the spread of the virus within Ecuador’s border, but rather, the government has implemented a new policy to prevent new cases coming in from other countries. Starting on May 12, international travelers arriving from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, or Peru will be required to present an ‘International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever’ in order to be allowed into Ecuador. This rule applies to people of all nationalities who have spent “more than ten days in any of the listed countries, whether in transit or as part of a visit, before entering Ecuador”, and the vaccine must have been administered at least ten days before travelling for it to be valid. The health ministry has also reminded Ecuadorians that the same rules apply to them if they are planning on travelling to high-risk areas within the country’s borders.
Colombia, like its Ecuadorian neighbors, have also been taking further steps to control the spread of yellow fever, even declaring a nationwide health emergency after 34 people had died from yellow fever in the country. They, like the authorities in Ecuador, have increased efforts to get the population vaccinated, and now require for citizens to show proof of vaccination before traveling to high-risk areas. There was a notable push to get people vaccinated before the Easter weekend, with the authorities keen to get as many people protected from the virus as possible before holidaymakers headed off on their travels. Looking at the infection rates, it appears that these measures- and more- are becoming increasingly necessary in countries like Colombia and Ecuador. Like Ecuador, Colombia have witnessed an increase in the reported number of yellow fever cases in 2025. In 2023, there were only two cases, with none reported between 2019-2022. In contrast, 74 instances have been seen in Colombia so far this year, a huge jump in infection rates, with the Health Minister explaining that the mortality rate has also been abnormally high, with around half of patients dying from the virus.
Yellow fever is not a new phenomenon in Latin America. Indeed, breakouts of this kind are quite common on the continent, with figures from 2023 showing that thirteen countries in South America “are either endemic for, or have regions that are endemic for, yellow fever.” Instances of yellow fever have become more common in the last couple of years; in 2024 alone, 61 confirmed cases of yellow fever were recorded across the continent, exceeding the 58 incidences between 2022-2023 in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru. Historically, cases of yellow fever in South America have tended to be found within these Amazonian states- including Guayana. However, this year, it seems that the disease is not behaving as usual. In 2025, yellow fever has begun to spread outside of this specific area, moving to states like Sao Paulo in Brazil and Tolima in Colombia. A change in the virus’ behavior could mean bad news for the continent, and for those living in historically unaffected areas. The Pan American Health Organization have warned that other countries- whom have never had to deal with yellow fever- may soon be affected by it.
Ecuador and Colombia are taking measured and responsible steps to control the spread of yellow fever throughout their countries and beyond. However, the appearance of cases in areas that have historically never been affected by the virus is worrying and could mean that more needs to be done to limit the spread, especially given that the mortality rate seems to have increased on previous years. However, all is not lost. The availability of a cheap vaccination which provides lifetime protection from the virus is a lifeline, and if vaccination drives convince more people to be inoculated against yellow fever, this could be the key to preventing further spread and avoiding a global health crisis.
