About Yellow Fever

Yellow fever, a disease commonly found in South American and sub-Saharan African countries, is transmitted through mosquito bites, and named yellow because jaundice is one of the symptoms. It is very important to get a yellow fever vaccine before traveling to a high risk country. There is currently no yellow fever treatment to cure the disease.

A yellow fever vaccine, available at any New York travel clinic, will help to prevent transmission from mosquitoes. It is advised to get a yellow fever vaccine at least two weeks prior to traveling, so that the immune system has time to build the antibodies, which is also provided by any New York travel clinic. Documentation of a yellow fever vaccine is required prior to entrance to a country that is at a high risk. In addition to a yellow fever vaccine, it is important to be as protected as possible from mosquito bites in high risk areas. Wearing clothes that cover skin and have been treated with the insecticide permethrin can help prevent yellow fever. Permethrin is slow to be absorbed into the skin, so it is generally safe for human contact. Additionally, sleep in screened areas and treat your living area with insecticide.

Yellow fever symptoms include, but are not limited to: arrhythmias, bleeding, delirium, fever, headache, jaundice, seizures and vomiting. If you have traveled to a high risk area, at the first sign of yellow fever symptoms, it is important to contact a doctor. A blood test can be done to determine whether or not your yellow fever symptoms are full blown yellow fever.

A travel doctor in New York will not only provide you with a yellow fever vaccine and the documentation for that yellow fever vaccine; he or she will also provide you with a consultation full of information pertaining to yellow fever and any other health matter that your area of travel might face.

Jungle Yellow Fever

There are two types of yellow fever, according to the Center for Disease Control. The first is jungle yellow fever, which generally affects monkeys, but can also affect humans working in jungles. This type of yellow fever can be spread to other monkeys or to humans, if a mosquito bites an infected monkey. Typically, the only humans to get jungle yellow fever are humans working closely in the jungle.

Urban Yellow Fever

Urban yellow fever is another type, which mainly affects humans and is spread to other humans. Both types of yellow fever are transmitted through mosquito bites. These mosquitoes are called Aedes Agypti and have become accustomed to living amongst humans. Urban yellow fever is the cause for most epidemics.