Foreign Office warns UK tourists 'at risk' unless they act 'eight weeks before trip'

UK tourists have been warned they are becoming ill in a popular holiday destination - and it could become SEVERE. People travelling outside the European Union to far-flung places like Peru in South America have been warned over a rise of the illness.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provided holidaymakers with new information on Oropouche virus disease and yellow fever. "At least eight weeks before your trip, check the latest vaccine recommendations for Peru," it said.

The FCDO added: "See where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page." Travel Health Pro warned: "On 19 September 2024, the Pan American Health Organization reported 38 confirmed cases of yellow fever, including 19 deaths since the start of the year.

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"Cases have been reported in: the Plurinational State of Bolivia (7 cases, including 3 deaths), Brazil (3 cases, including 2 deaths), Colombia (8 cases, including 5 deaths), Guyana (2 cases), and Peru (18 cases, including 9 deaths)."

A highly effective live yellow fever vaccine is available and in general vaccination is recommended for all persons visiting countries where there is a risk of yellow fever virus transmission. Very rarely yellow fever vaccination is associated with serious adverse reactions, it adds.

The risk of contracting the virus is determined by the following factors: travel destination, intensity of YF transmission in the area to be visited and season of travel (most cases in travellers have occurred in the late rainy season to early dry season).

Other facts can be duration of travel, activities allowing exposure to mosquitoes, and immunisation status, Travel Health Pro goes on to warn. Most people who get YF either have no symptoms or a mild illness and then fully recover. A small proportion of patients develop a severe illness with fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), bleeding and organ failure.