What is Yellow Fever?

Yellow fever is a severe infection that can occur in unvaccinated people or those who live in areas populated by mosquitoes that carry the virus. The World Health Organization estimates that around 200,000 people contract the disease every year. You should see a doctor if you have recently traveled to a high-risk area or have flu-like symptoms. Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and travel history and will likely conduct a blood test to check for antibodies to the virus.

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Symptoms of yellow fever include an intense, high fever, a slow pulse, bleeding gums, and yellow skin. Usually, it is treatable with rest and plenty of fluids. In severe cases, doctors may prescribe medicine to reduce the fever. People may also get the yellow fever vaccine. If you plan to travel to a tropical country, it is best to get vaccinated to prevent yellow fever.

Symptoms of yellow fever usually begin three to six days after the mosquito bite. The patient may experience muscle pains, headaches, shivers, extreme fatigue, and irritability. Some patients develop jaundice, a liver infection that causes high fever. Bleeding may also occur from the nose, mouth, and gastrointestinal tract.

Treatment

Treatment of yellow fever focuses on reducing the symptoms of the disease. Although most infected people do not exhibit any symptoms, those who do will experience fever, chills, muscle pain, and loss of appetite. Around fifteen percent of patients will develop a more severe form of the disease, characterized by a high fever and liver damage. Severe cases can cause multiple organ failures and result in death. In the early stages of the disease, treatment will focus on easing the symptoms and keeping the patient comfortable.

Although the incidence of yellow fever is constant in most African countries, the fatality rate varies. This means that early recognition, treatment, and control are essential. To achieve this goal, it is essential to have standardized demographic health surveys.

Prevention

Yellow fever is a severe and infectious disease. Although most cases are mild and subclinical, about 15 percent will develop severe disease. It may take weeks or months for a person to recover fully. About 30 percent to 50% of severe cases will lead to death. Mosquitoes transmit the disease. It is not spread directly from person to person; it only spreads through contact with infected mosquitoes, other people, or primates.

Yellow fever can be prevented with vaccination. However, there is no effective antiviral medication for the disease. The live-attenuated yellow fever vaccine has proven safe and effective. It offers lifetime protection from one shot, but it takes time to produce and is unavailable in all areas. As a result, the virus is difficult to control, and large outbreaks can result. Further research on the prevention and control of yellow fever is needed to develop effective vaccines and other tools.

Mosquitoes

Yellow fever is a disease that is caused by mosquito bites. The mosquito transmits this disease is called the Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus). This mosquito is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Its bites can cause minor itching and irritation to the skin. Fortunately, most mosquito bites are not severe. These insects usually bite at night, though many of them will also bite you during the day.

Female mosquitoes lay eggs in water-filled containers, feeding on flower nectar. The eggs hatch after two days. They are about one millimeter long and are white when they are first laid. They change to shiny black within minutes. In warm environments, the eggs can develop in less than two days. They can survive months of desiccation. They will subsequently emerge from the water in their adult form.