Yellow fever

Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever that is transmitted by mosquitoes. It was one of the most feared epidemic diseases in the world with the capacity to bring devastation to almost every continent. Mass vaccination campaigns in the mid-20th century succeeded in bringing the disease under control for over 40 years. However, since the late 1980s, this deadly disease has returned, putting a new generation at risk in West and Central Africa and threatening to erupt into devastating urban epidemics 1.
Group of happy African children from Samburu tribe, Kenya, Africa - © iStockGroup of happy African children from Samburu tribe, Kenya, Africa - © iStock

Did You Know?

Disease Transmission

Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever that is transmitted by mosquitoes

Vaccination

According to the WHO, a single dose of yellow fever vaccine can provide lifelong protection (2)

Yellow fever is a threat for over three million travelers

visiting endemic regions each year (3)

Areas at Risk of Yellow Fever Transmission

Areas at risk of Yellow Fever transmission

Human Yellow Fever Symptoms

Human Yellow Fever symptoms

Resources

Yellow Fever infographics
Yellow Fever: A Major Public Health Concern

References 

  1. WHO. The Yellow fever initiative: an introduction. WHO Emergencies preparedness, response.Accessed January 2018. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/yellowfev/introduction/en/
  2. WHO. New yellow fever vaccination requirements for travelers. International travel and health. 27 July 2016. Accessed April 2018. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/ith/updates/20160727/en/
  3. Barnett, E.D., Wilder-Smith, A., Wilson, M.E. Yellow fever vaccines and international travelers. Expert Rev Vaccines. July, 2008. 7(5):579-87. Accessed February 2018. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18564013

 This page last update: 09-2019