Venezuela Battles Surging Yellow Fever Outbreak Across 14 States; Nationwide Vaccination Drive Launched

Venezuelan health authorities are addressing a significant resurgence of yellow fever (YF), with 36 laboratory-confirmed human cases since the outbreak began in mid-2025.

As of late February 2026, these mosquito-transmitted cases have been reported across 14 states, indicating a wide geographic spread that surpasses the more localized patterns seen in previous outbreaks.

So far, the disease has remained limited to forest exposures, with no evidence of urban transmission by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Recent public reports have not detailed any related fatalities, though severe YF cases typically have a case-fatality rate of 20–50%.

Venezuela's YF outbreak occurs amid increased activity across the Americas. 

In 2024, the region reported 61 confirmed human cases and 30 deaths. By mid-2025, this number surged threefold to over 200 confirmed cases and 85 deaths (with a case-fatality rate of approximately 40%) across several countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, according to data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Subsequent PAHO updates reported even higher totals, with YF outbreaks expanding beyond traditional Amazonian zones into new areas, including Colombia's Tolima department in 2026.

This resurgence serves as a stark reminder of yellow fever's capacity to exploit vaccination gaps in endemic settings.

According to the PAHO, the minimal childhood vaccination coverage—below 80% in Venezuela and several other endemic countries—coupled with climatic factors that favor mosquitoes, has contributed to the intensification of YF outbreaks.

PAHO has repeatedly assessed the risk of yellow fever outbreaks in the Americas as high and has issued multiple epidemiological alerts in 2025, urging mass vaccination in at-risk areas. In response to the current outbreak in Venezuela, emergency vaccination campaigns have been launched, targeting high-priority parishes, particularly in rural and border areas.

The single-dose Stamaril (YF-VAX) vaccine provides lifelong immunity. While proof of yellow fever vaccination is not required for direct arrivals to Venezuela from non-endemic countries like the United States, it is mandatory for travelers aged 1 year and older arriving from or transiting through countries with a risk of transmission, such as Brazil and Colombia.

As of March 2, 2026, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends vaccination for most travelers visiting areas below approximately 2,300 meters in elevation, including popular sites like Angel Falls. In the U.S., the YF-VAX vaccine is commercially offered at travel clinics.

However, it is generally not recommended to vaccinate for travel limited to major cities such as Caracas or Valencia.

Separately, the U.S. Department of State maintains a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Venezuela, citing severe risks to visitors in March 2026.