Kochi: Brazilian football players have arrived in Kochi for the ‘Return of the Titans’ series, in which legendary players from Brazil and India will face off. A six-member Brazilian delegation, including football legend Ronaldinho, arrived at Nedumbassery on Tuesday. The match is scheduled to be held at 7:30 pm on Wednesday at the Kaloor International Stadium.

Ronaldinho and his entourage arrived in Kochi on an Emirates flight from Dubai at 9:55 am on Tuesday. However, two members of the delegation did not have yellow fever vaccination certificates. As a result, the airport health department initially did not allow them to leave the terminal.

The issue caused a delay in the group’s exit from the airport. Ronaldinho eventually came out of the terminal at 11:05 am.

The health department’s action was based on the requirement that travellers arriving from yellow fever-endemic countries carry valid vaccination certificates.

Later, the two members downloaded their vaccination certificates (digital cards) online and submitted them to the airport health department. They were subsequently allowed to leave the terminal.

What is yellow fever?

Yellow fever remains a persistent health threat in tropical areas of the world, with 40 countries across Africa and the Americas classified as endemic zones where the virus actively circulates. Transmitted primarily through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, the disease presents a constant risk to local populations and unprotected international travelers.

Health authorities define these endemic zones across two primary global regions:

  • Africa (27 Countries): Spans across West, Central, and East Africa, including nations such as Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, and Uganda.
  • The Americas (13 Countries): Concentrated in South and Central America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

International Travel Requirements

To prevent the international spread of the virus, global health regulations enforce strict entry and vaccination protocols:

  • Proof of Vaccination: Travelers entering a country from an endemic area are widely required to present an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) to border security as proof of immunization.
  • The 10-Day Rule: The yellow fever vaccine must be administered at least 10 days prior to arrival in the destination country for the medical certificate to be considered valid at the border.
  • Lifelong Validity: Under standard global health rules, a single dose of the yellow fever vaccine grants lifelong protection, meaning booster shots are no longer required for travel.