Africa yellow fever notice

Africa travel yellow fever guide : Yellow fever is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through mosquito bites. Symptoms take 3–6 days to develop and include fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches. About 15% of people who get yellow fever develop serious illness that can lead to bleeding, shock, organ failure, and sometimes death.

yellow-fever

Key Facts of yellow fever

  • Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients.
  • Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
  • A small proportion of patients who contract the virus develop severe symptoms and approximately half of those die within 7 to 10 days.
  • The virus is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Central and South America.
  • 27 countries are at highest risk for yellow fever epidemics in Africa.
  • The burden of yellow fever in Africa is estimated at 84,000–170,000 severe cases and 29,000–60,000 deaths annually. 
  • In 2016, during the two-linked urban yellow fever outbreaks – in Angola and DRC – 965 cases were confirmed and around 400 people died. The epidemic created an urgent need for more than 28 million doses of yellow fever vaccines total, which exhausted the existing global vaccine supply. It also diverted public health authorities from tackling other public health issues with an impact on health systems. Additionally, 11 cases were exported to China.
  • Since the launch of the Yellow Fever Initiative in 2006, significant progress in combatting the disease has been made in West Africa and more than 105 million people have been vaccinated in mass campaigns. No outbreaks of yellow fever were reported in West Africa during 2015.
  • Large epidemics of yellow fever occur when infected people introduce the virus into heavily populated areas with high mosquito density and where most people have little or no immunity, due to lack of vaccination. In these conditions, infected mosquitoes transmit the virus from person to person.
  • Yellow fever is prevented by an extremely effective vaccine, which is safe and affordable. A single dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to confer sustained immunity and life-long protection against yellow fever disease and a booster dose of the vaccine is not needed. The vaccine provides effective immunity within 30 days for 99% of persons vaccinated.
  • Good supportive treatment in hospitals improves survival rates. There is currently no specific anti-viral drug for yellow fever.

Yellow fever who is at risk?

Travelers to certain parts of Africa and South America are at risk for yellow fever. See the box below for specific information about the country where you are traveling.

Yellow fever Requirement

Required if traveling from a country with risk of YF virus transmission and ≥1 year of age, including transit >12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of YF virus transmission.1

Yellow fever Symptoms?

The majority of people infected with yellow fever virus will either not have symptoms, or have mild symptoms and completely recover. For people who develop symptoms, the time from infection until illness is typically 3 to 6 days.

Because there is a risk of severe disease, all people who develop symptoms of yellow fever after traveling to or living in an area at risk for the virus should see their healthcare provider. Once you have been infected, you are likely to be protected from future infections.

  • Most people will not have symptoms.
  • Some people will develop yellow fever illness with initial symptoms including:
    • Sudden onset of fever
    • Chills
    • Severe headache
    • Back pain
    • General body aches
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
    • Fatigue (feeling tired)
    • Weakness
    • Most people with the initial symptoms improve within one week.
    • For some people who recover, weakness and fatigue (feeling tired) might last several months.
  • A few people will develop a more severe form of the disease.
    • For 1 out of 7 people who have the initial symptoms, there will be a brief remission (a time you feel better) that may last only a few hours or for a day, followed by a more severe form of the disease.
  • Severe symptoms include:
    • High fever
    • Yellow skin (jaundice)
    • Bleeding
    • Shock
    • Organ failure
  • Severe yellow fever disease can be deadly. If you develop any of these symptoms, see a healthcare provider immediately.
  • Among those who develop severe disease, 30-60% die.

Diagnosis

  • Yellow fever infection is diagnosed based on laboratory testing, a person’s symptoms, and travel history.
  • More information on diagnostic testing is available on the For Healthcare Providers visit your .
Treatment
  • There is no medicine to treat or cure infection from yellow fever.
  • Rest, drink fluids, and use pain relievers and medication to reduce fever and relieve aching.
  • Avoid certain medications, such as aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve), which may increase the risk of bleeding.
  • People with severe symptoms of yellow fever infection should be hospitalized for close observation and supportive care.
  • If after returning from travel you have symptoms of yellow fever (usually about a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito), protect yourself from mosquito bites for up to 5 days after symptoms begin. This will help prevent spreading yellow fever to uninfected mosquitoes that can spread the virus to other people.
Yellow Fever Vaccination
Stay safe!
contact us