A – Z of Illnesses & Conditions

Yellow Fever: Yellow fever is a viral infection spread by a particular species of mosquito. It is most common in areas of Africa and South America, affecting travelers and residents in those areas. In mild cases yellow fever causes fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. But yellow fever can become more serious, causing heart, liver and kidney problems along with bleeding (hemorrhaging).  Up to 50 percent of people with the more severe form of yellow fever die of the disease.

•     high temperature (fever)
•     headache 
•     nausea and vomiting
•     muscle pain, including backache
•     jaundice – yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by liver damage

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever. But getting a yellow fever vaccine before traveling to an area in which the virus is known to exist can protect you from the disease. Some countries require proof of vaccination (a certificate) against yellow fever before they let you enter the country.

How Yellow Fever is spread: Yellow fever is a type of virus known as a flavivirus. The virus is transmitted through mosquito bites. It can be spread from one host to another, usually between monkeys, or from monkeys to humans, or from person to person. The mosquitoes live and breed in jungle and urban areas.