Virginia Mosquitoes
Education & Identification
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever virus is found in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and Africa. It is a very rare cause of illness in the United States. Illness ranges in severity from a self-limited febrile illness to severe liver disease with bleeding.
Historical Data
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Has been found in Virginia
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September 1, 1855 to 1860, Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, estimated 3200 victims
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Previous outbreaks
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Started in Africa, spread to Caribbean and Haiti
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Latin America and Mexico
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United States: Pennsylvania, Louisiana
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Transmission, Pathogens & Vectors
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The virus is transmitted to people by the bite of an infected mosquito
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Yellow fever virus is an RNA virus that belongs to the genus Flavivirus
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Related to West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis, and Japanese encephalitis viruses
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Infected by Aedes aegypti or Haemagogus aegypti species mosquitoes
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Mosquitoes get the virus by feeding on infected primates and then can transit the virus to other primates
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People infected with yellow fever virus are infectious to mosquitoes shortly before the onset of fever and up to 5 days after onset
Symptoms
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Most people are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms
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Flu like symptoms after an incubation period of 3 to 6 days
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Chills
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Severe headache
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Body aches and pains in back
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Fatigue and weakness
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Nausea and vomiting
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After initial phase of symptoms, most people improve but some may develop more aggressive symptoms including high fever, jaundice, bleeding, and even organ failure
Treatment
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No specific treatments have been found for people infected
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There are vaccines in the U.S. for people traveling to prevent Yellow Fever
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Resting, with plenty of water and taking pain relievers should help with most symptoms
