Yellow Fever

Yellow fever is a viral disease spread by the bite of specific kinds of mosquitoes. These mosquitoes and yellow fever are found in areas of Africa and South America located in the tropics and subtropics. The mosquitoes are infected when they bite primates who have the virus.

The yellow fever virus can have a range of symptoms. Some people may have no symptoms. It can present with mild flu-like symptoms but can also be deadly in its most severe form. You could have flu-like symptoms with aches, pains and fever or you could begin bleeding and develop liver disease. Symptoms take about three to six days to develop.

Who does yellow fever affect?

People who work or live in the jungles of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America are most affected by yellow fever. Travelers from the U.S. or other countries to these areas are exposed to this disease by contaminated mosquitoes.

How common is this condition?

There are about 200,000 people in the world who are infected each year with yellow fever. The condition causes about 30,000 deaths per year. Most of these cases and deaths (about 90%) are in Africa.