Yellow Fever Vaccination Advised for Travellers to Brazil From Age 9 Months

Travellers heading to Brazil and other parts of South America should consider yellow fever vaccination before departure, according to guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that was updated on 20 October 2026. The agency says the disease regularly occurs, or is endemic, in several countries on the continent, and it recommends vaccination for most travellers aged 9 months and older who are visiting areas at risk.

Key facts

• Yellow fever is endemic in several South American countries.
• Vaccination is recommended for most travellers aged 9 months and older going to at-risk areas.
• Risk areas are mapped for Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Paraguay and parts of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Uruguay.
• An active Travel Health Notice for yellow fever is in place for Colombia.
• The CDC guidance page was updated and reviewed on 20 October 2026.

Which countries and areas are at risk?

The CDC's risk map for the Americas shows areas where yellow fever transmission is possible and vaccination is recommended. It covers Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil and Paraguay, along with parts of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Uruguay.

The map is current as of November 2022 and is an updated version of a 2010 map produced by the Informal WHO Working Group on the Geographic Risk of Yellow Fever.

What about Brazil specifically?

In 2017, the CDC expanded its yellow fever vaccine recommendations for travellers going to Brazil because of a large outbreak in multiple states in that country. The agency directs travellers to its Travelers' Health website for more information and updated recommendations. The source does not list which Brazilian states are currently covered.

Who should be vaccinated?

The CDC recommends vaccination for most travellers aged 9 months and older who are visiting areas at risk. Yellow fever spreads through the bites of infected mosquitoes, and travellers to parts of South America are at higher risk of exposure.

What about lower-risk areas?

Vaccination is generally not recommended for travel to areas where the potential exposure to the yellow fever virus is low. It might still be considered for a small subset of travellers with prolonged travel, heavy exposure to mosquitoes or an inability to avoid mosquito bites.

The CDC says the decision should weigh destination-specific and travel-related risks of infection, individual risk factors for a serious vaccine-associated adverse event, and country entry requirements.

What this means for travellers

Travellers planning a trip to Brazil or other listed South American destinations should check whether their itinerary includes areas marked as at risk and discuss yellow fever vaccination with a health professional well before departure. The CDC also points travellers to its Travelers' Health website for recent updates on risk areas, traveller health notices and outbreaks in the Americas.

The guidance page was published on 15 May 2024 and was last updated and reviewed on 20 October 2026. The CDC notes that updates may include minor edits, image changes or other modifications to page content.