Table of Contents
What organs does yellow fever affect?
Yellow Fever is a viral infection that causes damage to the liver, kidney, heart and gastrointestinal tract. Major symptoms may include sudden onset of fever, yellowing of the skin (jaundice) and hemorrhage. It occurs predominately in South America, the Caribbean Islands and Africa.
How many people had yellow fever 1793?
11,000 people
How common is yellow fever today?
Yellow fever virus is estimated to cause 200,000 cases of disease and 30,000 deaths each year, with 90% occurring in Africa. 20% to 50% of infected persons who develop severe disease die.
What is another name for yellow fever?
| Yellow fever | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Yellow jack, yellow plague, bronze john |
| A TEM micrograph of yellow fever virus (234,000× magnification) | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
| Symptoms | Fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, yellow skin |
Why do they call it yellow fever?
Yellow fever is a viral disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes. Yellow fever can lead to serious illness and even death. It is called ‘yellow fever’ because in serious cases, the skin turns yellow in colour.
Where is the yellow fever found today?
The yellow fever virus is found in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa and South America. The virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito.
How do you test for yellow fever?
Laboratory diagnosis of yellow fever is generally accomplished by testing of serum to detect virus-specific IgM and neutralizing antibodies. Sometimes the virus can be found in blood samples taken early in the illness.
When was the last case of yellow fever in the United States?
The last major outbreak in the US occurred in 1905 in New Orleans. Major outbreaks also occurred in Europe in the 19th century in Atlantic ports following the arrival of sailing vessels from the Caribbean, most often from Havana. Outbreaks occurred in Barcelona, Spain, in 1803, 1821, and 1870.
What age group is most affected by yellow fever?
People 9 months through 59 years of age who are traveling to or living in areas at risk for yellow fever virus activity, or traveling to a country with an entry requirement for vaccination.