RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Minister of Health Jose Gomes Temporao denied on Wednesday the risk of a yellow fever outbreak in the country.

    "The situation is absolutely under control," said Temporao, stressing that the country has not had a confirmed case of yellow fever in an urban area since 1942. Most cases identified during the period took place in the rainforest region.

    The health minister said the local secretariats of health are monitoring eventual cases in the states.

    On Tuesday, Graco Abubakir, 38, a second patient allegedly infected with the disease died in the federal capital of Brasilia. He had been in hospital for a week, after developing the symptoms of fever, such as jaundice, vomiting and kidney failure.

    But it is reported that no yellow fever case has been confirmed yet. The physicians who took care of Abubakir in Brasilia said the cause of his death will only be confirmed next week, following tests to be held on the patient's body.

    According to the reports, Abubakir had spent the end-of-year holidays in a tourist city in the neighboring state of Goias, midwestern Brazil, which led the Ministry of Health to recommend the vaccination of citizens and visitors in 18 Brazilian states.

    However, Temporao added, there is no need to carry out a mass vaccination campaign in those states, as the population of urban areas are not endangered.

    Also on Tuesday, another patient developed the symptoms of the disease in the capital city of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, and was taken to a hospital in the region.

    The alleged spread of the disease generated a rush to local health centers, where people join long queues to take the vaccine that help immunize against yellow fever within 10 days.