Killer Disease

Transmitted by Animals to Humans

• Avian Flu or Bird's Flu

• Anthrax

• Bubonic Plague

• Leishmaniasis

• Leptospirosis

• Loiasis

• Malaria

• Onchocerciasis

• Rabies

• Rocky Mountain

• Tularemia

• Trypanosomiasis

• Yellow Fever

 

Yellow fever

An epidemic  viral disease, Yellow Fever is recorded in history that effected Africa and America 400 years back. The name Yellow is explained by the disease jaundice that affects some patients. Vaccine is available for some time now for this disease, it is again causing public health concern.

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

Lloss 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.