Nation currently in emergency status.
In a bid to combat the escalating yellow fever outbreak, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has declared a health and economic emergency. The outbreak, which started in 2024, has worsened through mid-2025, causing significant concern for public health authorities.
The severity and scale of the outbreak are alarming. As of June 2025, there have been at least 114 confirmed human cases of yellow fever, with 49 deaths reported, reflecting a high fatality rate of almost 50 percent. This makes it one of the most critical outbreaks outside Colombia's Amazon region, particularly concentrated in the coffee-growing region of Tolima.
The outbreak has also shown signs of zoonotic transmission, with at least 55 non-human primates infected. This poses a threat to more communities as the virus has spread beyond traditional risk areas. The initial detection of the outbreak was through the deaths of three monkeys in Putumayo, serving as an early warning.
To contain and prevent further spread, the Colombian authorities have enacted several measures. A nationwide health emergency declaration has been made to mobilize resources and coordinate response efforts. Anyone traveling by land or water within Colombia must now carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate, including travelers on buses, cars, and boats. This rule extends to visitors to national parks, where vaccination proof is checked at entry points.
Vaccination campaigns are prioritizing high-risk groups such as environmental workers and residents in affected areas. Enhanced surveillance and vector control are also in place, with entomological studies monitoring mosquito populations (Aedes and Haemagogus species) that transmit the virus and detecting new cases early.
Cross-sector training and coordination have been initiated, with health teams trained under initiatives like PAHO’s PROTECT program to collect samples, conduct surveillance on primates, and coordinate multi-sectoral responses swiftly and effectively.
President Gustavo Petro has urged his fellow citizens, particularly the unvaccinated, not to stay in risk areas over Easter. He emphasised the importance of getting vaccinated against yellow fever to protect oneself and others.
This emergency declaration addresses the public health threat from a growing yellow fever outbreak compounded by high mortality, zoonotic transmission signals, and the need for widespread vaccination and vector surveillance to prevent spread into urban centers. The economic emergency reflects the potential impact on travel, commerce, and public health costs due to these intensive control measures.
All data correspond to developments up to mid-2025 and represent the Colombian government's ongoing response to this critical vector-borne disease crisis.
- President Gustavo Petro, recognizing the severity of the yellow fever outbreak and its impact on both public health and the economy, declared a health and economic emergency in June 2025.
- In response to the crisis, the Colombian authorities are prioritizing science, as entomological studies are being conducted to monitor mosquito populations that transmit the yellow fever virus and detect new cases early.
- Furthermore, to address the mental health concerns arising from this outbreak, cross-sector training and coordination have been initiated, with health teams trained under initiatives like PAHO’s PROTECT program to manage stress and provide support in affected communities.
- As part of their ongoing response to the crisis, the Colombian government is advocating for health-and-wellness initiatives, urging citizens, particularly the unvaccinated, to prioritize their own health and that of others by getting vaccinated against yellow fever.
- Concerned about the far-reaching effects of the outbreak, President Gustavo Petro is also addressing chronic-diseases and environmental issues, suggesting that the increased use of CBD in medical-conditions might help reduce inflammation caused by the virus and improve the overall health of those affected, while encouraging sustainable environmental-science practices to mitigate the effects of climate-change on yellow fever vector populations.
