MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina confirms first case of yellow fever in 40 years

Yellow fever massive vaccunation

A farm worker has become the first person diagnosed in Argentina with yellow fever in forty years since the recent outbreak of the mosquito-transmitted disease in neighboring Paraguay, Brazil and Bolivia, confirmed Argentine Health ministry authorities.

The 24-year-old worker contracted the disease in the northeastern province of Misiones that borders Paraguay, said the public health minister from Misiones, Jose Gucchione, after lab tests in Buenos Aires confirmed the case. He added the man was "out of danger" after a weeklong hospitalization and expected to fully recover. Gucchione said a vaccination campaign was under way in Argentine provinces bordering Paraguay and Brazil and indicated that the farm worker had not been vaccinated. He apparently was infected with the disease while clearing a jungle area where several dead monkeys had been reported last month, presumably of yellow fever. In Paraguay at least eight people have reportedly died of the disease, but it's possible the figure could be higher since in many cases no tests were done. These are the first confirmed cases in Paraguay since 1974. In rural and tropical areas of Brazil the disease is endemic but information is hard to obtain. Minister Gucchione said a second highly suspicious case was been monitored by provincial health experts. An estimated 800.000 people have been vaccinated in Misiones, many of which are believed to be from neighboring Paraguay where the disease has caused a near panic situation. Deputy Federal Public Health minister Carlos Baez announced in Buenos Aires that 100.000 anti yellow fever vaccines are available in Misiones and another 200.000 will be flown in the coming days to ensure that the million inhabitants of the province are all immunized. An estimated 30,000 people worldwide die annually from the disease, according to the World Health Organization. Symptoms can include fevers, vomiting, jaundice and bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes and stomach.