SAO PAULO -- Brazilian authorities have confirmed more than 60 cases of yellow fever during the summer rainy season, a sharp rise from just seven the previous year.

The vast majority of the cases are in the state of Minas Gerais, where the governor declared a state of emergency this month after an initial report of eight deaths. The state Health Department said Monday that it has now confirmed 58 cases there, including 32 deaths.

The national Ministry of Health, meanwhile, reported that Sao Paulo state, Brazil's most populous, has confirmed three cases that all resulted in death. The states of Espirito Santo and Bahia each registered one case. All three states neighbour Minas Gerais.

Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne illness. Symptoms include fever, chills, severe headache and vomiting.