What We Do
Yellow fever, transmitted by certain infected mosquitoes, is present in French Guiana. It is a disease of varying severity, sometimes fatal, for which there is no cure. Responsible for approximately 30,000 deaths worldwide each year, the disease can be effectively prevented through vaccination.
Santé publique France monitors the disease, promotes vaccination, and advocates for preventive measures for individuals affected by this notifiable disease, which falls under the International Health Regulations.
Epidemiological Surveillance of Yellow Fever
Santé publique France monitors the trends of notifiable diseases, including yellow fever, and analyzes both surveillance data and vaccination coverage data. Any patient arriving from an endemic area with clinical symptoms suggestive of yellow fever must be reported immediately to the Regional Health Agency. Biological confirmation of the diagnosis is performed at the National Reference Center for Arboviruses (Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Marseille) or its associated laboratory (Pasteur Institute of French Guiana).
Mandatory reporting involves collecting as comprehensive information as possible regarding all cases of certain diseases—most often communicable diseases known as “notifiable diseases”—from laboratory technicians and physicians. In some cases, it involves two successive procedures: initial reporting followed by formal notification.
Physicians and laboratory professionals who suspect or diagnose a notifiable disease, including yellow fever, must report it immediately and by any appropriate means (telephone, fax) to the physician at the Regional Health Agency (ARS) in their area of practice. The initial report allows the ARS physician to urgently implement individual and collective preventive measures around the cases and, if necessary, initiate investigations to identify the source of the infection and take action to reduce it.
Notification occurs after the report and most often after confirmation of the diagnosis. Reporting physicians or laboratory professionals notify the ARS physician at their place of practice using a form specific to yellow fever. Notification enables the analysis and monitoring of the progression of these diseases within the population in order to better target local and national prevention efforts.
Definition of reportable and notifiable yellow fever cases
| Reported cases | Notified cases |
|---|---|
|
Suspected cases
: Clinical presentation suggestive of yellow fever in a person arriving from an endemic area |
|
|
Confirmed cases: Suspected Report immediately by any means (phone, fax, email) |
Confirmed cases: Suspected Report using the simple, downloadable notification form |
Notification Form
Informing the public about the reporting of notifiable diseases
The Ministry of Health is responsible for reporting confirmed cases to the World Health Organization (yellow fever is subject to international reporting in accordance with the International Health Regulations).
Surveillance partners:
National Arbovirus Reference Center:
CNR-Coordinating Laboratory: IRBA (Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute)
Director: Isabelle LEPARC-GOFFART Deputy
Directors: Gilda GRARD and Guillaume DURAND
Email: cnr-arbovirus.u1207@inserm.fr
Address:
CNR des Arbovirus
IHU Méditerranée-Infection
1st Floor – Laboratory 114
19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin
13005 MARSEILLE
Secretariat: 04 91 61 79 10 - Fax: 04 91 61 75 53 - Email: CNRarbovirus@irba.fr
CNR-Associated Laboratory: CHU Saint-Denis La Réunion
Head: Dr. Marie-Christine JAFFAR-BANDJEE
Tel.: 02 62 90 59 34
Email: marie-christine.jaffarbandjee@chu-reunion.fr
Address:
CHU Saint-Denis de la Réunion Félix Guyon
Microbiology Laboratory
Allée des Topazes - CS11021 - 97405 Saint-Denis Cedex
Secretariat: 02 62 90 62 60 - Fax: 02 62 90 53 38 or 02 62 90 50 54
CNR-Affiliated Laboratory: Institut Pasteur Guyane
Director: Dr. Dominique ROUSSET
Tel.: 05 94 29 26 09
Email: drousset@pasteur-cayenne.fr
Address:
Institut Pasteur de la Guyane Virology
Laboratory
23, avenue Pasteur - BP 6010 - 97 306 Cayenne Cedex - French Guiana
Laboratory: 05 94 29 58 27 - Secretariat: 05 94 29 58 16 - Fax: 05 94 29 58 09
Promotion of vaccination and preventive measures against yellow fever
As part of its prevention mission, Santé publique France:
Assesses the risk of yellow fever virus infection based on the epidemiology of the disease in endemic areas as well as its environmental trends
Recommends vaccination against yellow fever, the only way—along with personal protective measures against mosquitoes—to prevent contracting this serious disease. This vaccination is:
Mandatory in France for children over 12 months of age and adults traveling to or residing in French Guiana.
Recommended for travelers over 9 months of age traveling to countries where the disease is endemic in Africa or Latin America, even in the absence of a legal requirement.
Provides information on how to protect yourself from mosquito bites. This protection does not replace vaccination.
In addition, Santé publique France helps promote vaccination through various tools (website, promotional campaigns, brochures, etc.). We have created an informational website on vaccinations available in France to provide reliable, scientifically validated answers to questions the public and healthcare professionals may have on the subject.
A section dedicated to yellow fever vaccination is available in two sections—one for the general public and the other for healthcare professionals—to better support them in their practice:
For travelers and residents of the French Guiana department
HCSP Opinion of October 23, 2015, on yellow fever booster vaccination for French Guiana
Special issue of the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin: Health recommendations for travelers, 2022
Reference materials
HCSP Opinion of October 23, 2015, on Yellow Fever Booster Vaccination for French Guiana
HCSP Opinion of February 10, 2017, on the recommended course of action in the event of an imported or locally acquired case of yellow fever
In relation to
Vaccination
thematic dossier
Contagious diseases most often affect children at a very young age. Because children are particularly vulnerable, they are a priority target for vaccination programs.
