The Colombian government declared a nationwide health emergency late Wednesday following a surge in yellow fever cases across the country.
Health Minister Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo reported that since the beginning of last year, there have been 74 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne disease, resulting in 34 deaths. Yellow fever is transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes.
The most severe outbreak has been recorded in the central-west region of Tolima, where 22 cases have been identified. Authorities are now ramping up vaccination campaigns and mosquito control efforts to prevent further spread of the virus.
