Fatal myeloencephalitis following yellow fever vaccination in a case with HIV infection

Abstract

A 53 year old physically healthy man, unaware of any immunocompromised condition developed rapidly fatal myelomeningoencephalitis following a live-attenuated yellow fever vaccination. He was found to have asymptomatic HIV infection with high viral loads and low CD4 counts. This is the first reported case of such an incidence in the world literature. It is strongly suggested that in countries where HIV infection is endemic, an HIV blood test should be performed prior to the yellow fever vaccination and the vaccine should not be given to those immunocompromised persons.