YELLOW FEVER VACCINE

Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavavirus that is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. It gets its name from the yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) that occurs when the virus attacks the liver. Yellow fever can be prevented by a vaccine.

• Symptoms can take 3 to 6 days to appear.
• Initial symptoms usually include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, joint and muscle pain, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, back pain, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, weakness and dehydration. Most patients recover after this stage.
• In severe cases, the disease can lead to shock, internal bleeding, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) and organ failure. This occurs in about 15% of patients, half of whom will die within 10-14 days.

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever, only supportive care to help relieve symptoms.

Yellow fever is endemic (always present) in many tropical areas of Africa and South America.

Yellow fever can occur in urban areas when infected people travel from rural or jungle areas into highly populated areas, where the mosquitoes bite infected people and then spread the disease to uninfected people.

You can find a list of countries where Yellow Fever occurs here.

Many countries require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination for entry, especially if you're traveling to or from regions where the disease is endemic. According to international health regulations, the vaccine must be administered at least 10 days before travel to be considered valid. (See here for more information)