The Ministry of Health and Wellness is repeating its call for Jamaicans to get vaccinated for yellow fever and show proof of vaccination when travelling to and from affected countries.
This, against the background of an increase in human cases of the disease for 2025 in countries in the Americas.
The Pan American Health Organization notes that between epidemiological week 1 and 12 of 2025, 131 confirmed cases of yellow fever in humans have been reported in four countries, of which 53 have been fatal.
The cases have been reported in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.
The ministry says it will continue to undertake surveillance at the ports of entry for persons arriving from these destinations.
In a statement on Monday, chief medical officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, says yellow fever is an acute illness caused by the yellow fever virus which is found in the tropics of South America and Africa.
The virus is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes such as the Aedes Aegypti; the same species that transmits the chikungunya, dengue and zika viruses.
Dr. Bisasor McKenzie says as a Class 1 notifiable disease, suspected yellow fever cases are to be reported to the Ministry of Health and Wellness within 24 hours on suspicion by a healthcare professional.
The health ministry says yellow fever vaccines are administered at the Slipe Pen Road Comprehensive Health Centre in Kingston on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and at the Montego Bay Type 5 Health Centre in St. James on last Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The ministry advises that the vaccines be administered at least 10 days prior to travel.
The shots cost $1,500.
