Colombia’s Ministry of Transport has introduced a new travel requirement due to the yellow fever outbreak.
The new requirement prevents unvaccinated travelers from entering areas where yellow fever–carrying mosquitoes are present. This new requirement involves people traveling by road and river in Colombia.
These measures aim to stop new yellow fever cases in certain regions of the country. The government issued this requirement due to a yellow fever outbreak, mainly in the central region of the country. Authorities will enforce the rule while the health emergency remains active. Health checkpoints will be set up along highways.
From now on, all travelers by road or river must show proof of yellow fever vaccination. This rule applies to people buying tickets at bus terminals and online platforms.
If you don’t have a vaccination certificate, you must sign a sworn statement. This statement must confirm you were vaccinated at least ten days before your trip, as health authorities recommend. You must present the declaration when boarding a bus. If you haven’t been vaccinated, you must sign a document accepting full responsibility for any possible infection. This includes the risk to yourself and to others.
Travel agencies and bus terminals must post warnings about yellow fever, including symptoms, risks, and health advice.
Where are most of the yellow fever outbreaks located?
On May 11, 2025, Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection released a new epidemiological report warning about the alarming rise in yellow fever cases across the country.
According to the report, health authorities confirmed 86 cases of yellow fever between 2024 and so far in 2025, with 38 resulting deaths. So far this year alone, they have reported 63 active cases and 25 deaths—a significant increase compared to previous years.
The department of Tolima has emerged as the epicenter of the outbreak, with 43 active cases and 25 confirmed deaths. Authorities also reported a new case in this region in the past few hours, reinforcing the urgent need to strengthen containment efforts.
Atlántico and the surrounding region is not among the areas at highest risk for the yellow fever in Colombia.
What is Yellow Fever?
Yellow fever is an infectious disease spread by mosquitoes that usually bite during the day. The disease is endemic in 34 African and 13 Central and South American countries. You can prevent it by getting vaccinated.
Common Yellow Fever Symptoms
The yellow fever incubation period lasts three to six days.
Many people have no symptoms.
Common symptoms include fever, muscle pain, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting.
Most symptoms go away after three or four days, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO warned that some patients enter a toxic phase, which affects the liver and kidneys.
In this phase, patients may develop jaundice, dark urine, and abdominal pain with vomiting.
Bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes, or stomach may also occur.
Half of the patients in the toxic phase die within 7 to 10 days.
