is a virus that is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites.
Jungle yellow fever
is transmitted to humans through mosquitoes that have been infected by monkeys carrying the virus.
Urban yellow fever
is passed to mosquitoes from infected humans, and the mosquitoes continue to infect other humans by biting them. Yellow fever cannot be passed from human to human.
The yellow fever virus is found only in South America and sub-Saharan Africa. Jungle yellow fever is typically only passed to humans who work or travel in the rain forest. Yellow fever can only be contracted through a bite from a female mosquito.
Risk factors for getting yellow fever include traveling to an area where humans are already infected by the yellow fever virus or where there are contaminated monkeys or mosquitoes that can transmit the virus.
Symptoms for yellow fever include:
- High fever
- Chills and muscle aches
- Vomiting, sometimes vomiting blood
More serious complications include:
Symptoms typically begin 3-6 days after infection. Yellow fever is diagnosed with a blood test, but there is no course of treatment for the virus. Doctors usually recommend a long period of bed rest, along with plenty of fluids. Patients should also avoid places where mosquitoes are present to avoid spreading the disease to others.
Illness from yellow fever varies from a self-limited illness to hemorrhagic fever, which can be very severe and lead to death.
The vaccine is a weakened, live form of the yellow fever virus. The vaccine is created by growing the live virus in a lab. The preferred storage method is frozen vials. The vaccine is administered subcutaneously (beneath the skin).
The yellow fever vaccine is not usually given with other vaccines, but it may be given with the
hepatitis B vaccine.
The following individuals should get vaccinated:
- All individuals aged 9 months to 59 years who are traveling to or living in a place where yellow fever is present such as certain parts of South America and Africa
- People who work in labs and may be exposed to yellow fever
Travelers should be vaccinated at least 10 days before departure.
The vaccine lasts for 10 years. Every 10 years, a booster is required if you are at risk for contracting yellow fever.
Common minor side effects include:
- Soreness, swelling, or redness at the injection site
- Muscle aches
Rare, serious side effects include:
- Nervous system reaction
- Severe allergic reaction
- Organ failure
The vaccine should not be given to:
- Infants aged six months or younger—In rare cases when your 6-8 month-old baby must travel to high-risk areas, talk to the doctor about the vaccine.
- People over the age of 60 are at higher risk for serious complications. If you are traveling to an area of yellow fever risk, consult an infectious disease specialist to find out if vaccination is a good choice for you.
- Are severely allergic to eggs, chicken, or gelatin
Have a disease that weakens the immune system, such as
—If you are traveling to high-risk areas, talk to your doctor about the vaccine.
Are receiving treatments that weaken the immune system, such as
- Have problems with the thymus or have had their thymus removed
- Are pregnant (theoretical risk to the developing fetus)—Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of the vaccine if you are traveling to a high-risk area. If you are vaccinated, your doctor may use a blood test to confirm immunity.
- Are breastfeeding—If you are traveling to high-risk areas, talk to your doctor about the vaccine.
To decrease your chance of getting yellow fever, do the following:
- Use insect repellent.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Stay in screened areas.
An outbreak of yellow fever in the United States is unlikely since the virus is not geographically present in this country. But in the event of an outbreak, uninfected people would be vaccinated and precautions would be taken to reduce transmission.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Vaccine Information Center website. Available at:
. Accessed February 4, 2007.
The Directors of Health Promotion and Education website. Available at:
. Accessed February 4, 2007.
Jentes ES, Poumerol G, Gershman MD, et al. The revised global yellow fever risk map and
recommendations for vaccination, 2010: consensus of the Informal WHO Working
Group on Geographic Risk for Yellow Fever.
Lancet Infect Dis.
Khromava AY, Eidex RB, Weld LH, et al. Yellow Fever Vaccine Safety Working Group. Yellow fever vaccine: an updated
assessment of advanced age as a risk factor for serious adverse events.
Vaccine. 2005 May 9;23(25):3256-63.
Staples JE, Gershman M, Fischer M. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC). Yellow fever vaccine: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP).
MMWR Recomm Rep. 2010 Jul 30;59(RR-7):1-27.
Thomas RE, Lorenzetti DL, Spragins W, Jackson D, Williamson T. Active and
passive surveillance of yellow fever vaccine 17D or 17DD-associated serious adverse events: systematic review.
US Department of Health and Human Services, National Immunization Program website. Available at:
. Accessed March 3, 2008.
Yellow fever vaccine. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
. Updated February 2010. Accessed February 19, 2010.
Yellow fever vaccine: what you need to know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
. Published March 30, 2012. Accessed February 24, 2012.
2/19/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
: Transmission of yellow fever vaccine virus through breast-feeding—Brazil, 2009. Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 2010;59(05):130.
Last reviewed June 2012 by Lawrence Frisch, MD, MPH
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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