SVG issues yellow fever vaccination certificate requirement for travellers

Persons travelling to St Vincent and the Grenadines from countries known to have yellow fever transmission are now required to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate.

According to a release from the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, owing to the recent outbreak of the disease in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo,{{more}} as well as smaller outbreaks in Peru, Brazil and Uganda, there have been some changes in the requirements for travellers in the Caribbean to and from certain countries.

“All persons travelling to SVG from countries known to have yellow fever transmission should be in possession of a yellow fever vaccination certificate upon arrival at all ports of entry,” the release said.

Vincentians who will be travelling to countries with reported cases of yellow fever transmission are advised that they can receive vaccinations at the Kingstown District Clinic.

According to the World Health Organization yellow fever “is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The ‘yellow’ in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients.”

Some of the symptoms include: fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

The release stated that countries such as Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela are listed as countries with a high risk of transmission.

“In terms of the risk of transmission and the vaccination requirements for travellers, it should be noted that in the Americas, Argentina, Bolivia (one State), Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela are the only countries listed as having a risk of transmission, and this is based on their history of having had human cases or jungle (sylvatic) cycles of YF in animals, e.g. monkeys.”

Additionally it states that Brazil and Peru have already reported small numbers of cases in humans, while Columbia has reported on sylvatic cases.

Regional air carrier LIAT recently put out a travel advisory stating that persons travelling from some African and Latin American countries show proof of having a yellow fever vaccine before they are able to travel to the Caribbean.

“Due to a recent outbreak of Yellow Fever in some African and Latin American states, and therefore under WHO guidelines, the governments of various territories are requiring that passengers travel with their International Immunization Card indicating proof of the Yellow Fever vaccination on entry, or re-entry into their countries. As the list of countries requiring such proof is constantly being updated, LIAT is recommending that all travellers check local and intended destination health requirements, including countries in which they might be in-transit, prior to departure,” states the LIAT advisory on yellow fever requirements for travel. (CM)