A yellow fever outbreak in Colombia has prompted a nationwide health emergency, with 74 confirmed cases and 34 deaths since last year. The central-western Tolima region is facing the highest number of cases.
The Colombian government declared a nationwide health emergency late on Wednesday, April 16, due to an alarming rise in yellow fever cases. As of the latest report, 74 people have been confirmed to have contracted the virus, resulting in 34 deaths since the start of 2024.
Yellow fever, a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, has seen its most critical outbreak in Tolima, a region in central-west Colombia, where 22 cases have been detected. To curb the spread of the virus, the government has set up medical tents at the transport terminal in Bogotá.
Health Minister Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo urged citizens to vaccinate themselves, stressing the importance of taking preventative measures, especially for those planning to travel. "Yes, it is worrying, and we must be aware of vaccinating ourselves to prevent it. Those of us who are going to travel must avoid bringing the virus," said Viviana Quintero, a Colombian citizen.
The Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes, which transmit the disease, have been the main vector for the outbreak.
Colombia's president has suspended a ceasefire with a FARC offshoot after efforts to extend the truce failed, though peace talks remain on track.
Colombian Peace Commissioner Otty Patino reaffirmed the government’s openness to dialogue with the ELN rebels despite recent attacks that halted peace talks. The government continues to focus on regional peace strategies, engaging with smaller factions while pushing for irreversible peace processes.
Comuneros del Sur surrender weapons and agree to disarmament in landmark peace accord with Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
Colombia’s Finance Minister Diego Guevara is reportedly resigning after budget disputes with President Gustavo Petro, local media say. The finance ministry denies having official information, but sources claim he stepped down Monday night, with German Avila Plaza expected to replace him.
Colombia has confirmed the release of 29 soldiers kidnapped by civilians under coercion from a FARC dissident faction.
Mexico's Health Ministry confirmed the country's first human case of myiasis caused by screwworm, a parasitic infection, the government reported on Friday. The case was detected in a 77-year-old woman from Acacoyagua, a municipality in the southern state of Chiapas.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have stated that the United States will abandon efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine unless significant progress is made in the coming days.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
he Trump administration has replaced the Covid.gov website, once a central hub for COVID-19 resources, with a new platform focusing on the lab leak theory regarding the virus's origins.
International financial leaders will discuss ways to restore aid to Syria during next week’s IMF and World Bank meetings.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday his plan to reclassify approximately 50,000 federal workers under a new category, "Schedule Policy/Career," which would make it easier to fire civil servants who do not align with his administration's policy agenda.
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order early Saturday blocking the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members from Texas under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law from 1798.
At least 17 people were killed when suspected cattle herders launched attacks on communities in central Nigeria's Benue State on Thursday, police confirmed. The assault is part of a worrying resurgence in violent clashes between farmers and herders, which have long plagued the region.
In a groundbreaking event, China hosted the world’s first humanoid robot race, where robots and humans competed side by side. The competition saw Chinese-made Tien Kung Ultra emerge victorious in the half-marathon, completing the 21-kilometer course in an impressive 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Japan is contemplating offering concessions in the form of increased soybean and rice imports as part of ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, according to a report by the Yomiuri daily on Saturday.
Mexico's Health Ministry confirmed the country's first human case of myiasis caused by screwworm, a parasitic infection, the government reported on Friday. The case was detected in a 77-year-old woman from Acacoyagua, a municipality in the southern state of Chiapas.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have stated that the United States will abandon efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine unless significant progress is made in the coming days.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
he Trump administration has replaced the Covid.gov website, once a central hub for COVID-19 resources, with a new platform focusing on the lab leak theory regarding the virus's origins.
International financial leaders will discuss ways to restore aid to Syria during next week’s IMF and World Bank meetings.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment