Have you ever heard of Yellow Fever? It's important to know about it if you're planning a trip to Africa or South America. It's a viral disease that's spread by mosquitoes and can be dangerous at times. Let's take a look at some of the details.
What is Yellow Fever?
Simply put, yellow fever is a disease caused by a virus. It is spread by the bite of a special type of mosquito. These mosquitoes, and yellow fever, are most common in parts of Africa and South America, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Imagine a mosquito biting an animal like a monkey that has this virus, and then when that mosquito comes and bites us, we get this disease.
Yellow Fever virus can cause a variety of symptoms when it is contracted. Some people may not have any symptoms at all. Some may experience a mild flu-like illness with body aches and fever. However, in severe cases, it can be fatal. You may start with fever and body aches, then develop bleeding and liver problems. Symptoms usually take three to six days to appear.
Who is most affected by yellow fever?
Yellow fever mostly affects people who work and live in tropical and subtropical rainforests in Africa and South America. Now imagine, if you travel from Sri Lanka to such a country, you too can contract this disease by being bitten by mosquitoes carrying this virus there.
How common is this disease?
It is estimated that about 200,000 people worldwide get yellow fever every year. This causes about 30,000 deaths every year. About 90% of these cases and deaths are reported in Africa. This means that this is not a disease to be taken lightly.
What are the symptoms of yellow fever?
As I mentioned before, it is possible to have yellow fever without any symptoms. However, if symptoms do occur, they can be mild or very severe.
Common, less severe symptoms
These are the symptoms that may usually appear first:
- Fever.
- Headache.
- Body pain.
- Feeling tired and exhausted (fatigue).
- Nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms that can be severe
But for some people, the condition can become more severe, and symptoms like these may occur:
- Very high fever.
- Jaundice - This means your skin and the whites of your eyes turn yellow. That's why it's also called 'yellow fever'.
- Hemorrhage - This means bleeding from inside or outside the body. It can occur from bleeding gums, nosebleeds, or even bleeding while vomiting.
- Shock.
- Liver failure.
- Kidney failure.
- Unfortunately, even death can occur.
Important: Between 30% and 60% of people who develop severe yellow fever can die, making this a very dangerous condition.
What really causes yellow fever?
The main cause of yellow fever is a virus. This virus is spread by the special type of mosquito I mentioned earlier.
How exactly is yellow fever transmitted?
Yellow fever is transmitted by special types of mosquitoes found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa (sub-Saharan Africa) and South America. These mosquitoes are called Aedes and Haemagogus . These mosquitoes can infect someone who has the yellow fever virus (a human or an animal such as a monkey) and then bites a healthy person.
Is yellow fever transmitted directly from one person to another?
No. Even if you have yellow fever, you cannot spread it directly to someone else. For example, it cannot be spread through coughing or kissing. However, if a mosquito bites you while you are sick and then bites someone else, that person can get the disease. That is why it is important to stay safe from mosquitoes even if you are sick.
How do you know for sure if you have yellow fever?
If you have been to an area with yellow fever and have any symptoms, such as fever and body aches, you should see a doctor immediately. In addition to asking about your symptoms and where you have been, your doctor will likely order blood tests to check for the virus in your blood. This is how you can confirm whether you have the disease or not.
Is there a specific treatment for yellow fever?
Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment or cure for yellow fever. That's why getting vaccinated and staying away from mosquitoes are so important.
Your doctor will tell you to get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids, which will help you feel better. If you need to take painkillers, they will tell you not to take aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can cause bleeding, because of the risk of bleeding with yellow fever.
If you have a severe case of jaundice, you will definitely need to be hospitalized. There, treatment is based on symptoms, for example, to reduce the impact on the liver and kidneys, and to control fluid levels in the body.
So, how do you avoid yellow fever?
This is the most important thing. The best way to protect yourself from yellow fever is to get the specific yellow fever vaccine.
- If you are traveling to an area known to have yellow fever, you should get this vaccine three to four weeks before your trip . For most people, one dose of the vaccine provides lifelong protection.
There are a few other things you can do to avoid mosquitoes:
- Use a mosquito repellent containing DEET . There are those that are rubbed on the skin or sprayed on clothing.
- Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks. It is best to wear clothes that have been treated to repel mosquitoes if possible.
- If the place you're staying at doesn't have screens on the windows or AC, use a mosquito net when you sleep.
- Avoid going out during peak mosquito season. This usually means from dusk to dawn. However, the type of mosquito that transmits yellow fever can also bite during the day, so it's always best to be careful.
- If you are confirmed to have yellow fever, continue to cover up. Because if a mosquito bites you and that mosquito bites someone else, that person could also be infected, right?
What kind of condition can someone with yellow fever expect?
If you have a mild case of yellow fever, your symptoms will usually go away in about a week. But you may feel tired and weak for more than a week. Once you recover completely, you will have lifelong immunity to yellow fever. This means you will not get yellow fever again.
When should you see a doctor about yellow fever?
If you have been to Africa or South America and have any symptoms like fever or body aches, definitely see a doctor.
Also, if you have already been confirmed to have yellow fever, it's okay to let your doctor know if your symptoms are new or if they get worse.
Are yellow fever and malaria the same disease?
No, yellow fever and malaria are two different diseases. But they do have some small similarities:
- Both are spread by mosquitoes.
- Both cause fever and flu-like symptoms.
- Both can cause jaundice, severe illness, and even death.
But there are also big differences between the two:
- Malaria is caused by a parasite , but yellow fever is caused by a virus.
- The types of mosquitoes that spread malaria are different from the types of mosquitoes that spread yellow fever.
- There is a vaccine to prevent yellow fever, but there is not yet a vaccine to prevent malaria. If you are traveling to an area where malaria is common, you should talk to your doctor about preventative medications.
How long have yellow fever epidemics been going on in the United States?
Yellow fever has been prevalent in the United States since the 1600s. One of the worst outbreaks occurred in Philadelphia in 1793, when about 10% of the city's population died from yellow fever. There have been other outbreaks, but the last major yellow fever epidemic in the United States occurred in New Orleans in 1905.
This helps us understand how dangerous this disease can be, even when we look at history.
Why is this disease called "yellow fever"?
This is called 'yellow fever' because when this disease occurs, some people develop jaundice. Then the skin turns yellow. And because this disease also causes fever, the two together have come together to form the name 'Yellow Fever'. Simple, right?
Does yellow fever still exist in the world today?
Yes, definitely. This virus is still active in parts of Africa and South America. There hasn't been a major outbreak in America since 1905. But if people like us in Sri Lanka are going to those countries, it's very important to be aware of this and take safety measures.
Finally, the most important things you need to remember
Yellow Fever is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes and found in parts of Africa and South America. It can sometimes be fatal. The best thing is that it can be completely prevented by getting the Yellow Fever vaccine.
Remember:
- If you are going to a country like this, get vaccinated before you go.
- Use mosquito repellent and wear clothing that covers the body well.
- Mosquito control programs are being implemented in some areas.
- If you have symptoms such as fever and body aches, especially after traveling to an area with yellow fever, seek medical advice immediately.
Yellow fever is not a disease of the past, so it is very important for all of us to be aware of it.
` Yellow Fever, Mosquitoes, Virus, Vaccine, Africa, South America, Jaundice, Symptoms, Prevention
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