What is Yellow Fever and what causes it?
A number of countries require a yellow fever certificate, which is called the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). Other risk destinations may not ask you for a certificate, but if visiting a risk area you still need to have the vaccination. Please bear in mind, your yellow fever certificate will only become valid ten days after the injection.
Yellow fever certificates used to expire after a certain number of years. However, they are now valid for life for most people. This includes certificates which were issued before this rule changed in July 2016 and which have an expiry date on them.
The World Health Organisation reports that there are about 84,000 – 170,000 severe cases of yellow fever a year, resulting in 29,000 – 60,000 deaths. The most important step in preventing yellow fever is a yellow fever vaccination prior to travel.
Yellow fever is a viral infection, which is passed on by a particular type of mosquito. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the virus, occurs primarily in African and South American countries. Yellow fever is not passed from person to person.
The virus causes an estimated 29,000 – 60,000 deaths worldwide every year and affects over 170,000 patients. 20% – 50% of yellow fever patients who suffer severe symptoms die of the infection.
The diagnosis of yellow fever involves a blood test, as the symptoms of yellow fever are very similar to those caused by other tropical diseases. There is no specific yellow fever treatment. In mild cases, patients usually rely on painkillers and anti-inflammatories to alleviate the symptoms. In severe cases, hospital treatment is needed.
If you are planning to visit a country where yellow fever is endemic, you need to visit a Superdrug yellow fever centre for a vaccination. The nurse or pharmacist will assess whether the vaccine is suitable for you.
Yellow Fever signs and symptoms:
The mosquito’s bite leads to infection and the typical symptoms of yellow fever, which include fever, vomiting or nausea, headache, muscle pains and a characteristic yellowing of the whites of the eyes (also known as jaundice). Yellow fever increases the risk of dehydration and can be very dangerous. It can cause haemhorrohagic fever (which causes bleeding from the mouth, eyes, ears and stomach) as well as multi organ failure.
How to minimise risk of Yellow Fever:
Using a mosquito repellent and wearing long sleeved-tops as well as long trousers will deter mosquitoes and reduce your risk of catching an infection. You may also wish to take a mosquito coil or plug-in device with you, to use in your accommodation.
By avoiding swamps and other mosquito breeding grounds, you can minimise your exposure to insect bites. Ideally, you should stay in places with air conditioning or at least insect mesh screening in front of all windows.
Vaccination Information:
The vaccine is one dose and it lasts for a lifetime. The vaccine needs to be administered at least 10 days before travelling.
