Yellow fever is a viral disease spread by the bite of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, found in Latin America, South America and parts of Africa. It is called “yellow” due to the coloration that appears on the skin of infected people. But how well do you know this disease and how to protect yourself?
Professor Thomas Lescot, Europ Assistance’s Chief Medical Officer, answers some of the common questions you may have about yellow fever to help you better understand it and take the right steps to protect yourself against the disease: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAYMYJw2vNA
HOW CAN I RECOGNIZE & PREVENT YELLOW FEVER?
If you are planning on traveling to high-risk areas, it is important you consider getting vaccinated. In fact, you might even have to show your International Certificate of Vaccination to prove you’ve had the yellow fever shot to access certain countries. Most doctors recommend you get the shot at least ten days before you travel.
The symptoms of the infection usually appear about three to six days after a mosquito bite and can include headache, dehydration, muscle and joint ache, backache, loss of appetite, fever and chills. After this initial phase, most patients start to feel better and this is the end of the symptoms. But some can develop more serious health conditions such as yellow skin or eyes, delirium, seizures, bleeding problems and liver damages.
Apart from the vaccine, the best prevention is to reduce your chances of getting bitten by mosquitoes. Actions you can take include wearing long pants, long sleeved shirts, and socks, using a mosquito repellent, or put mosquito nets on the bed where you are going to sleep.
And if you have any doubt, get in touch as soon as possible with a medical professional.
