The yellow fever virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms take 3 to 6 days to develop and include fever, muscle pain with backache, headache, nausea and vomiting.
Fifteen percent of patients enter a second toxic phase, where bleeding and organ failure can occur. According to statistics, up to 50% of those severely affected and without treatment die from the disease.
Africa is home to 31 of the 44 yellow-fever endemic countries. It’s thought there are as many as 170,000 cases worldwide with up to 60,000 deaths every year, the vast majority in Africa.
Vaccination is the single most important measure for preventing yellow fever- effective in 99% of people. The World Health Organization now believes a single dose is enough for life-long protection.
Very notably, authorities in Angola are rushing to the spread of Yellow Fever in the country. The disease has claimed almost 160 lives in recent months, most in the capital, Luanda. It’s the country’s worst outbreak for thirty years. And experts fear it’s going to spread.
