The Ministry of Health indicated that there are 22 prioritized parishes in the states of Lara, Portuguesa, Aragua and Barinas for yellow fever vaccination of people between 12 months and 59 years of age, although surveillance is at the national level.
The Ministry of Health intensified vaccination plans since February 22 due to the increase in cases and deaths from yellow fever in the country.
In an epidemiological alert, dated February 24, the Ministry of Health reported that since June 2025, 36 cases and 19 deaths have been recorded in 14 states of the country. Likewise, epizootics (deaths in monkeys) have been recorded in eight states where the disease transmitted by mosquitoes is concentrated.
Yellow fever is an acute hemorrhagic viral disease whose fatality rate can reach up to 40% in severe cases, in unvaccinated people. Venezuela is one of the 13 endemic countries where this disease circulates in the Americas.
The Ministry of Health indicated that there are 22 prioritized parishes in the states of Lara, Portuguesa, Aragua and Barinas (identified as the territory of origin of the infection) for vaccination of people between 12 months and 59 years of age, although surveillance is at the national level.
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Minister Nuramy Gutiérrez González assured that they have guaranteed the provision of vaccines for the population in this initial approach in these four states, “plus the military component due to its vocation to travel throughout the national territory.”
On February 25, Delcy Rodríguez met with the representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) in Venezuela, Armando De Negri Filho, to coordinate technical cooperation and the situation in the region regarding this outbreak.
Rodríguez then indicated that this vaccination campaign will be extended throughout the year, with priority in the municipalities with the highest prevalence. In Caracas, a vaccination point was activated at the Vicente Salias hospital in Fuerte Tiuna to serve the military sector.
The Venezuelan Society of Infectious Diseases, for its part, called to reinforce epidemiological surveillance in the country, intensify vaccination of exposed populations and educate the community and health personnel about the disease and how to prevent it.
He also called on the population to go to the designated centers and get vaccinated against yellow fever, whose immunization is for life with a single dose. . “We make ourselves available to the authorities in whatever way we can help.”
In the last 20 years, recalled the Venezuelan Society of Infectious Diseases, six outbreaks have been reported (2002, 2005, 2008, 2019, 2021 and 2025) with a combined fatality rate of 41.58%, with 42 deaths and 101 cases recorded.
*Journalism in Venezuela is carried out in a hostile environment for the press with dozens of legal instruments in place to punish the word, especially the laws “against hate”, “against fascism” and “against the blockade.” This content was written taking into consideration the threats and limits that, consequently, have been imposed on the dissemination of information from within the country.
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