Yellow Fever Vaccine

Yellow Fever

• The World Health Organization estimates there are 200,000 cases of yellow fever worldwide each year, resulting in 30,000 deaths. Yellow fever appears to be on the rise internationally, due to a decreased immunity to infection among local populations, deforestation, climate change, and high-density urbanization.
• Yellow fever is caused by a small virus that is spread by the bite of mosquitoes typically of short duration. This disease is common in South America and in sub-Saharan Africa. Anyone can get yellow fever, but the elderly has a higher risk of severe infection. If a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, symptoms usually develop 3 – 6 days later.
• Yellow fever has three stages:
  • Early stage: (1st Stage) Headache, muscle and joint aches, fever, flushing, loss of appetite, vomiting, and jaundice are common. After approximately 3 – 4 days, often symptoms go away briefly (remission).
  • Period of remission: (2nd Stage) After 3 – 4 days, fever and other symptoms go away. Most people (85%) will recover at this stage.
  • Period of intoxication: (3rd Stage). Some (about 15% of people) may move onto the intoxication stage within 24 hours. In a day of improving the fever comes back, abdominal pain occurs, and liver damage begins causing yellow skin. If this occurs, the risk of bleeding and kidney problems is increased. Most dangerous stage Multi-organ dysfunction occurs. This may include heart, liver, and kidney failure, bleeding disorders, hemorrhage, and brain dysfunction including delirium, seizures, coma, shock, and death.