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.