Yellow fever outbreaks in São Paulo State, Brazil, 2000-2010.

OBJECTIVE to describe yellow fever occurrence in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in the period 2000-2010. METHODS this was a descriptive study using data regarding human cases, epizootics in non-human primates and virus vector isolation in São Paulo State, between 2000 and 2010. RESULTS three sylvatic yellow fever outbreaks were registered in the state with 32 human cases and 15 deaths; the cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals exposed to the sylvatic form of transmission; epizootics was confirmed before the virus began circulating in humans in the region of São José do Rio Preto and the virus was isolated twice in vectors. CONCLUSION three sylvatic yellow fever outbreaks occurred in the state between 2000 and 2010, two of them in a transition area and the other in an area considered to be unaffected; vaccination and maintaining immunization coverage are necessary for preventing the disease.