Context:
A total of 117 passengers of Indian Origin that have arrived from Sudan are currently quarantined because they were not vaccinated against Yellow Fever.
Relevance:
GS II: Health
Dimensions of the Article:
- Yellow Fever
- Yellow Fever Symptoms
- Prevention and Treatment of Yellow Fever
Yellow Fever
- Yellow fever is named so because it is often associated with jaundice, which causes a yellowing of the skin and eyes.
- Yellow fever is endemic in 47 countries in Africa, Central, and South America, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
- About 90% of reported cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
Transmission:
- The yellow fever virus is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes, with the most common vector being the Aedes species – the same mosquito that spreads other viruses like Zika, Chikungunya, and Dengue.
- The Haemogogus mosquito also spreads the virus, mainly found in jungle areas. Yellow fever cannot be spread from one person to another through contact.
Yellow Fever Symptoms
Incubation Period
- Yellow fever virus incubates in the body for 3 to 6 days after contraction
Two Phases of Symptoms
Symptoms usually present themselves in 2 phases
- The first, “acute”, phase causes fever, muscle pain or vomiting
- Most patients improve and their symptoms disappear after 3 to 4 days
Second Toxic Phase
- A small percentage of people enter a second, more toxic phase within 24 hours of the initial remission
- They will experience high fever, JAUNDICE, and abdominal pain with vomiting and deteriorating kidney function
Prevention and Treatment of Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a preventable disease, and its treatment primarily focuses on managing the symptoms. Below are the details:
Prevention:
- Yellow fever can be prevented by getting vaccinated with the 17D vaccine, which provides lifelong immunity against the disease.
Treatment:
- There is no specific treatment for yellow fever, but supportive treatment can help in managing symptoms such as dehydration, fever, and infection.
- Bacterial infections that are associated with yellow fever can be treated with antibiotics to prevent further complications.
-Source: The Hindu
