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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

  • Has been found in Virginia

    • September 1, 1855 to 1860, Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, estimated 3200 victims

  • Previous outbreaks

    • Started in Africa, spread to Caribbean and Haiti

    • Latin America and Mexico

    • United States: Pennsylvania, Louisiana

Information gathered by Harper H.

Transmission, Pathogens & Vectors

  • The virus is transmitted to people by the bite of an infected mosquito

  • Yellow fever virus is an RNA virus that belongs to the genus Flavivirus

  • Related to West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis, and Japanese encephalitis viruses

  • Infected by Aedes aegypti or Haemagogus aegypti species mosquitoes

  • Mosquitoes get the virus by feeding on infected primates and then can transit the virus to other primates

  • People infected with yellow fever virus are infectious to mosquitoes shortly before the onset of fever and up to 5 days after onset

 

Symptoms

  • Most people are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms

  • Flu like symptoms after an incubation period of 3 to 6 days

  • Chills

  • Severe headache

  • Body aches and pains in back

  • Fatigue and weakness

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • 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

  • No specific treatments have been found for people infected

  • There are vaccines in the U.S. for people traveling to prevent Yellow Fever

  • Resting, with plenty of water and taking pain relievers should help with most symptoms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow Fever transmission in Africa and South America

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