Yellow Fever Risk Areas

Vector

Bite from a mosquito, primarily Aedes or Haemagogus species Based on a modelling study, 

 

UP to 170,000 severe cases
Worldwide (estimated in 2013)

 

Symptoms

Fever, muscle pain with prominent backache, headache, chills, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting.

 

Most patients improve after the initial presentation. After a brief remission of hours to a day, approximately 15% of patients progress to a more serious, toxic form of the disease.

 

Severe case

High Fever, with the liver and kidneys affected, jaundice, dark urine, abdominal pain with vomiting, bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes or stomach, and eventually shock and multisystem organ failure. 

​

Prevention

Precautions against yellow fever, including avoiding mosquito bites and receiving vaccinations, should be considered:
-Vaccination certification may be required depending on the destination.
-Take preventive measures when mosquitoes are most active (during daylight hours)
-All diagnoses of yellow fever made in Canada are required to be reported to public health authorities.
-Use a recommend insect repellent containing either Picaridin (20%) or DEET.
-Wear appropriate clothing (e.g. long-sleeved shirt, long pants)
-Use physical barriers, such as bed nets and window screens.
-Infected patients should be protected from further mosquito exposure during the first few days of illness to avoid contributing to the transmission cycle.

 

Yellow Fever Vaccine

The Yellow Fever vaccine is recommended for those travelling to yellow-fever countries and who will be in at-risk areas of the country. Proof of vaccination is required from some countries upon arrival or if you are travelling out of a Yellow Fever -endemic country. The vaccine must be administered at least 10 days prior to leaving in order for the proof of vaccination certificate to be accepted by the host country. The Yellow Fever vaccine requires special consultation as individuals with certain medical conditions should not receive the vaccine.