site.btaForeign Ministry Advises Bulgarians Travelling to Colombia to Get Vaccinated against Yellow Fever

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Bulgarian citizens to get vaccinated against yellow fever if they are planning to travel to the Republic of Colombia. The reason is a national state of emergency declared by the Colombian government due to a rising number of yellow fever cases, as stated in an announcement on the Foreign Ministry’s website on Friday.

According to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, data from Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection indicates that the most serious situation is currently in the Tolima region, located in the west-central part of the country.

The vaccine should be administered at least 14 days prior to the planned date of travel—this is the period required for immunity to develop. The Ministry emphasized that the risk of infection is extremely high, as the virus is transmitted through the bites of Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes, which are widely spread.

The Ministry advises Bulgarian citizens who are already in Colombia and have not been vaccinated against yellow fever to check for designated vaccination centers. Up-to-date information can be found on the websites of local health institutions as well as the website of Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection.

Earlier, TASS reported that Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered authorities to vaccinate all Colombian citizens against yellow fever within two months.