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What is Yellow Fever? Yellow fever is a viral tropical disease that is spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. The disease is caused by a virus. Most yellow fever infections are mild. However, the disease can cause severe, life-threatening illness. Yellow fever is found only in parts of Africa and South America. Yellow fever has caused large epidemics in Africa and Northern and Southern America. Yellow fever is characterized by fever, jaundice, and hemorrhage. Kinds of Yellow Fever There are two kinds of Yellow Fever: jungle (Sylvatic) yellow fever and urban yellow fever. Jungle Yellow fever usually occurs in monkeys. It is spread from infected monkeys to humans by the bite of an infected female mosquito. Jungle Yellow fever is rare and usually occurs in individuals who work in tropical rain forests. Urban Yellow Fever is a disease that usually occurs in humans. It is spread by the bite of an infected female mosquito that have infected other people. They type of mosquito that usually carries the yellow fever is called Aedes aegypti. Urban yellow fever is the cause of most yellow fever outbreaks. Female and not male Female mosquitoes transmit the virus because they take blood from the bitten victim. Male mosquitoes do not take blood from the victim. After the mosquito ingests the virus, it takes about a week to ten days or so for that mosquito to become infective. Can Yellow Fever be prevented? Yes.
Yellow fever is preventable by immunization. Travelers to countries with yellow
fever should get the yellow fever vaccine. Some of the most common symptoms of yellow fever are:
Symptoms of yellow fever usually appear between 3 and 6 days after being infected by a mosquito. Yellow fever must be monitored by a doctor. After a brief recovery period, the infection may lead to shock, bleeding, and kidney and liver failure. Yellow fever is diagnosed by
a blood test. People are at risk when they travel to an area where there is yellow fever in humans or monkeys and there are mosquitoes to spread the virus. Complications of Yellow Fever Severe
yellow fever infections can be fatal. Rest is the usual treatment. However, if you are infected with yellow fever, follow the advice of your doctor.
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