Holidaymakers are being warned about a potentially deadly disease affecting some tourist hotspots. Travel Health Pro, an official government advice website used by the Department of Foreign Affairs, has highlighted the rise of yellow fever.
Tourists heading to the Caribbean, parts of Africa, Central and South America are now being warned to be vigilant. The disease became well known in the 18th century when it was often called ‘Yellow Jack’.
It caused huge casualties among soldiers and sailors serving overseas, especially in the tropics. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause a serious hemorrhagic disease that can be fatal in humans.
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Vaccination can help protect against yellow fever. Patients often appear to recover, but then deteriorate 24 hours later, with up to 50 percent of people who reach this stage dying.
The World Health Organization advises a yellow fever vaccine for all travelers nine months of age and older visiting areas at risk of the disease. Countries that have experienced recent outbreaks include Trinidad in the Caribbean, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria , South Sudan, Togo and Uganda.
In South America, seven confirmed cases of yellow fever included four deaths. They were reported between January 1 and March 19 this year.
There have been three fatal cases in Colombia, two cases in Guyana and two cases in Peru – which included one death. Brazil confirmed yellow fever in monkeys, indicating that it is circulating in the country.
Travel Health Pro said tourists should be vaccinated and may need an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) for yellow fever when they arrive in the country. The infection has an incubation period from a mosquito bite of three to six days.
Initial symptoms include myalgia (muscle pain), pyrexia (high temperature), headache, anorexia (lack of appetite), nausea and vomiting. Many patients see improvement in symptoms and a gradual recovery three to four days after the onset of symptoms.
Within 24 hours of an apparent recovery, 15 to 25 percent of patients may progress to more severe disease. This takes the form of an acute hemorrhagic fever, with possible bleeding from the mouth, eyes, ears and stomach.
It can also be pronounced jaundice – yellowing of the skin, from which the disease gets its name. Other symptoms include kidney damage.
Patients may go into shock, and major organ failure may occur. It is believed that 20 to 50 percent of patients who develop this form of the disease do not survive.
Infection leads to lifelong immunity in those who recover. Urgent referral to an infectious disease/tropical disease clinical team is required.
The UKHSA’s Rare and Introduced Pathogens Laboratory is a specialist center for healthcare professionals providing advice and diagnosis for a wide range of unusual viral and bacterial infections including yellow fever.