This DREF operations update seeks to provide an update of the implementation of activities so far whilst at the same time seeking a 1-month extension to finalize community-level activities and home visits in the target intervention areas delayed due to administrative procedures. The new operation end date is 19 August 2017.
A. Situation Analysis
A.1 Description of the disaster
Brazil is experiencing the largest outbreak of yellow fever since the 1940s. While the most confirmed cases are in states of Minas Gerais and Espiritu Santo, the disease has spread to other regions in the country. On 13 January 2017, the Ministry of Health declared a public health emergency in the state of Minas Gerais.
The most recent epidemiological report number 43 (31 May 2017) from the Brazilian Ministry of Health was cited in the DREF Operation Update no. 1.
There were 792 confirmed cases and 274 deaths since December 2016. On 3 July, the Ministry of Health stated that the death rate had risen by one person and five more confirmed cases.1 Of the 3,245 cases notified, 1,929 were ruled out and 519 cases remain under investigation. The number of cases has stabilized since the end of the summer which also experienced rains. It has meant a significant decrease in the Aedes aegypti mosquito population. This mosquito in addition to transmitting yellow fever also transmits Zika, dengue and chikungunya.
The state of Rio de Janeiro has the most confirmed cases (22) of yellow fever as well as epizootic diseases. There are currently 19 states and the federal district in which the yellow fever vaccination is permanently recommended for the population from the age of 9 months to 59 years.2 With this DREF Update, the operation will be extended one month to complete the community-level activities and the home visits in the target intervention areas.
The IFRC, on behalf of the Brazilian Red Cross, would like to extend thanks to the Canadian Red Cross Society (Canadian government) for their generous contributions to the replenishment of this DREF. The major donors and partners of the DREF include the Australian, American and Belgian governments, the Austrian Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross and government, the Danish Red Cross and government, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), the Irish and the Italian governments, the Japanese Red Cross Society, the Luxembourg government, the Monaco Red Cross and government, the Netherlands Red Cross and government, the Norwegian Red Cross and government, the Spanish government, the Swedish Red Cross and government, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the Medtronic and Zurich foundations, and other corporate and private donors.