Yellow Jack’s Potential Return to the American South

This perspective article warns of yellow fever’s potential resurgence in the U.S. South due to expanding Aedes mosquito habitats, climate change, urbanization, and poverty. Past epidemics in cities like New Orleans and Memphis caused catastrophic loss of life, and current conditions mirror historical risk factors. The authors cite increasing outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika in Florida and Texas, alongside yellow fever reemergence in Venezuela and Brazil. El Niño-driven warming may further elevate arboviral transmission risk. U.S. populations are largely unvaccinated against yellow fever, and vaccine stockpiles are lacking. The piece calls for improved vector surveillance, emergency vaccination strategies (including fractional dosing), and investment in novel mosquito-control technologies.

This perspective article warns of yellow fever’s potential resurgence in the U.S. South due to expanding Aedes mosquito habitats, climate change, urbanization, and poverty. Past epidemics in cities like New Orleans and Memphis caused catastrophic loss of life, and current conditions mirror historical risk factors. The authors cite increasing outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika in Florida and Texas, alongside yellow fever reemergence in Venezuela and Brazil. El Niño-driven warming may further elevate arboviral transmission risk. U.S. populations are largely unvaccinated against yellow fever, and vaccine stockpiles are lacking. The piece calls for improved vector surveillance, emergency vaccination strategies (including fractional dosing), and investment in novel mosquito-control technologies.