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Yellow Fever Traveller's Guide
Yellow fever is a viral infection that is passed to humans by day time biting Aedes mosquitoes. It is called this because one of the symptoms is jaundice, which can make the skin and whites of the eyes appear yellow. In the past it was an important tropical disease and epidemics decimated armies and had a huge impact on American ports like Philadelphia, New Orleans and Memphis. Some people call it 'American Plague'. Yellow fever can cause severe illness and death. The World Health Organisation estimates that the disease kills 30,000 people every year and it has a constant presence in tropical areas of Africa and the Americas. It can be caught in jungle or urban areas. It is taken very seriously and some countries will not let you in without a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Whether you need a certificate can also depend on the countries you have visited in the last six days, so it is always wise to get expert advice that is specific to your own travel plans. Yellow fever symptoms Three to six days after a person has become infected they can develop symptoms of: Phase 1 - the 'acute' phase Temperature over 38°C or 100.4°F Muscle pain, especially backache Headache Shivers Loss of appetite Nausea/vomiting After 3-4 days most patients improve and their symptoms disappear Approximately 15% will then go on to phase 2 - the 'toxic' phase Fever re-appears Jaundice Stomach pain and sickness Bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes or stomach There is no specific treatment for yellow fever. Infected people must be admitted to hospital to have their symptoms treated. Unfortunately half of the patients who enter the 'toxic' phase die within 10-14 days. Protection from mosquito bites during the daytime and vaccination are important ways to reduce the risk. What to do if you are worried that you've got yellow fever You should seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the signs and symptoms of yellow fever. Symptoms are similar to other tropical diseases so should always be investigated by a healthcare professional. Following travel health nurse advice If a travel health nurse has told you that yellow fever vaccination is mandatory or recommended for you, there is no doubt that your travel plans put you at-risk from yellow fever or that you need proof of vaccination to enter your destination country. If they say you should consider the vaccination you need to weigh-up the risk and cost of the vaccine against the potential risk of the disease. Many people prefer to take no chances with their health. Travel health nurse advice is based on: Up-to-date information on whether there is a problem in the place you are travelling to, or whether you require a yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter the country. Your chance of coming into contact with the disease. The medical facilities available if you were to become infected. The duration of your stay. All travel vaccination recommendations can change because of disease outbreaks and seasonal variations but nurses have access to daily updates and are specialists in travel health services. You should have your vaccination at least ten days before travelling to a yellow fever area to allow your immunity to develop and for the International Certificate of Vaccination (if required) to become valid. If you have made your travel plans late and have less than ten days before you travel, contact your Travel Clinic immediately. Vaccination may still be worthwhile depending on your plans and length of stay. The vaccination can only be given in designated yellow fever vaccination centres. The vaccination for yellow fever has been in use for over 50 years and generally it is well tolerated. Typical reactions include pain at the injection site, mild temperature and headache/muscle pain. However, there have been some very rare but serious reactions reported. Severe reactions involving multiple organs of the body are estimated to occur in 1 in every 200,000 people receiving the vaccine for the first time. The risk is higher in travellers over 60 years of age receiving the vaccine for the first time (5 in 200,000). Travel Health Nurse Experts are trained in assessing the risk to each individual traveller. If it is not appropriate for you to have the vaccination, you can be issued with a medical letter of exemption. Yellow fever protection: summary of action to be taken: Get vaccinated at least ten days before you travel. Take your International Certificate of Vaccination with you when you travel and keep it safe as it is valid for 10 years. Take measures to protect yourself from mosquito bites day and night. Cover skin with loose-fitting clothing. Use insect repellents and nets. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com MASTA provide travel health experts who can discuss yellow fever and other travel health considerations with you before your trip. |
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