Yellow Fever

Cause The viral disease Yellow fever belongs to  the flavi virus group. In East and West Africa generic type virus called topo group and in south Africa only one type of virus is established since 1974.

Symptoms Like any other virus the incubation period is 3 to 6 days and takes two forms  and symptoms are as under.

The first phase have no visible symptoms.

In the second form

•  Fever

• Muscle pain (with prominent backache)

•  Headache

• Shivers

• Loss of appetite

• Nausea and/or vomiting.

some times  high fever is with  slow pulse. After three to four days most patients improve and their symptoms disappear.

Treatment The treatment is simple under normal conditions

• Oral re hydration salts

• paracetemol

• Bacterial infection is treated with  antibiotics.

 Intensive  care may improve the outcome for seriously ill patients, but is rarely available in poorer, developing countries.
 

Prevention

Prevent yellow fever by Vaccination.

Control mosquitoes and prevent spread of virus. A single dose of vaccine gives protection for 10 years. Vaccine gives protection effect within a week. Brazil, Australia and the United States reported serious adverse effects  including deaths and investigating the outcome.