yellowfever pamphlet

Yellow Fever

How to avoid Yellow Fever infection and having proper documentation of vaccination for international travel

Yellow Fever

Yellow fever is a flavivrus that can cause severe symptoms in travelers. This virus is transmitted to people by mosquitoes infected with the yellow fever virus. People may get sick or die with this infection. Jaundice often occurs hence the name “Yellow Fever”.

There are 200,000 cases of yellow fever per year with 30,000 deaths. There are 3 modes of transmission of this virus by mosquito: sylvatic, intermediate and urban.

The sylvatic cycle occurs in tropical rain forests. The virus is found in monkeys who mosquitoes bit and spread to people.

The intermediate cycle occurs in the humid/semi humid savannahs of Africa. Both humans and monkeys are reservoirs for yellow fever.

The urban cycle occurs when immigrants infected will introduce the virus into a population where mosquitoes that were formerly virus-free pick it up.

Mosquitoes can become infected from feeding on natural wildlife in Central/South America and Africa or from people who have been infected. There is potential for travelers to spread yellow fever from an infected area to an uninfected area so many countries require a certificate of vaccination before entering the country, especially when a person is coming from an infected area.

The symptoms of yellow fever range from none to full-blown cases. The incubation period after being bitten is 3-6 days followed by fever, headache, muscle aches, and protein in their urine. Usually a slow pulse with fever is noted and abdominal tenderness. After 3-5 days people get better or may deteriorate with kidney or liver failure (causing the yellow jaundice), abdominal pain and bleeding.

Fatality has been up to 50% for adults, 70% for children. No treatment is other than supportive is available.

Yellow Fever Vaccination

Yellow fever vaccine is only available at certified clinics. It is a live vaccine that may cause 1-3 days of muscle aches, low grade fever or malaise (flu symptoms), but is effective after 7-10 days. These side effects are rare and sometimes happen within the first 2 weeks after vaccination. It is not given to children under 9-12 months (unless an overwhelming need), immune compromised individuals and pregnant women. The yellow fever certificate should be kept with the traveler's passport. One yellow fever injection is valid for ten years. An official certificated is given when a person receives a yellow fever vaccination. The yellow fever vaccine must be kept frozen and be given to a patient within one hour of being thawed and reconstituted.

About Us

Skylark medical clinic is both a sports medicine and travel medicine clinic. To go “Skylarking” was a term used for traveling. Our clinic's focus is to give clients the best available information to ensure safe travel world wide, whether it be for business or pleasure. Many illness and accidents are easier prevented rather than treated later on.

If you are unsure you even require travel vaccinations feel free to call 453-9107 for advice on what vaccines are necessary for the countries you will be visiting. If you do need immunization you may phone for an appointment with a clinician. Because we realize the urgent last minute preparations of travels, we will do our best to see you as soon as possible.

Consultations with a clinician includes pretravel vaccination, medication for altitude disease prevention, travelers diarrhea, and malaria prevention.

Travel consultations are not covered by Manitoba Health and therefore will be billed to the patient. Most vaccinations are included in the visit except Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria Medication, Japanese Encephalitis, and rabies vaccine.