Yellow Fever Virus Vaccine–associated Deaths in Young Women1

Stephen J Seligman

doi:10.3201/eid1710.101789

Abstract

Yellow fever vaccine–associated viscerotropic disease is a rare sequela of live-attenuated virus vaccine. Elderly persons and persons who have had thymectomies have increased susceptibility. A review of published and other data suggested a higher than expected number of deaths from yellow fever vaccine–associated viscerotropic disease among women 19–34 years of age without known immunodeficiency.

Highlights

Yellow fever vaccine–associated viscerotropic disease is a rare sequela of live-attenuated virus vaccine
Several case reports of yellow fever vaccine– associated viscerotropic disease (YEL-AVD) in young women raise concern that women of childbearing age might be at increased risk (6–10)
The Study To investigate the possibility of age- and sex-specific risk groups, a comprehensive YEL-AVD dataset (Table 36-30 in 11), was analyzed (Figure)

Summary

Introduction

Yellow fever vaccine–associated viscerotropic disease is a rare sequela of live-attenuated virus vaccine. Rare neurologic adverse events, called yellow fever vaccine–associated neurotropic disease (YEL-AND), have long been recognized but are seldom fatal. In 2001, the vaccine was found to cause a serious, frequently fatal, multisystemic illness, called yellow fever vaccine– associated viscerotropic disease (YEL-AVD), which resembles the illness it was designed to prevent (1–3).

Results

Conclusion