Yellow Fever: All You Need To Know.

Yellow Fever: All You Need To Know.

Just of recent, the Nigeria's Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), reported that a Yellow Fever outbreak is currently active in Nigeria as we speak. Confirmed cases have been recorded in 14 States in Nigeria so far, the states are: Kwara, Kogi, Kano, Zamfara, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Katsina, Edo, Ekiti, Rivers, Anambra, FCT, and Benue. All healthcare workers in the country are particularly advised to be cautious and alert in their dealings with individuals, especially those coming from the affected states and presenting with the classical signs and symptoms of Yellow Fever disease. Facts About Mosquitoes That Will Surprise You.

What is Yellow Fever?

Yellow Fever is an Acute Viral Haemorrhagic Fever caused by a Flavivirus and transmitted by an infected Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes. The word " Yellow " in its name stems from the Yellowish Colouration of the eyes of infected individuals or persons.

Causes of Yellow Fever.

The Yellow Fever disease is caused by a virus called (Flavivirus) which is transmitted to humans by the bites of an infected Aedes and Haemogogus Mosquitoes. The mosquitoes either breed around houses (domestic), in forests or jungles (wild), or in both habitats (semi-domestic) as the case may be. Occasionally, infected travellers from areas where Yellow Fever occurs have exported cases to countries that are free of Yellow Fever, but the disease can only spread easily if that country has mosquito species able to transmit the Yellow Fever disease, specific climatic conditions and the animal reservoir needed to maintain it.

Signs And Symptoms of Yellow Fever.

Once the Yellow Fever is contracted, the Yellow Fever virus incubates in the body of the host for 3 to 6 days. Many people do not experience symptoms during this period, but when these do occur for sure, the most common are Fever, muscle pain with prominent backache, headache, loss of appetite, and nausea or vomiting. In most cases, symptoms disappear after 3 to 4 days. Only a small percentage of patients, however, enter a second, more toxic phase within 24 hours of recovering from initial symptoms. High fever returns and several body systems are affected, usually the liver and the kidneys. In this toxic phase, people are likely to develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes, hence the name " Yellow Fever "), dark urine and abdominal pain with vomiting. Bleeding can occur from the mouth, nose, eyes or stomach. Half of the patients who enter the toxic phase die within 7 - 10 days, thus making the Yellow Fever Disease very deadly.

Diagnosis of Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever disease is very difficult to diagnose, most especially during the early stages. A more severe case of Yellow Fever can be confused with severe malaria, leptospirosis, viral hepatitis (especially fulminant forms), other haemorrhagic fevers, infection with other flaviviruses (such as dengue haemorrhagic fever), and poisoning as the case may be. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in blood and urine can sometimes detect the virus in early stages of the disease. In later stages, testing to identify antibodies is crucially needed. Latest: Detecting Malaria Using Magnets And Laser, A New Way.

Transmission of Yellow Fever Disease.

The Yellow Fever virus is an Arbovirus of the Flavivirus Genus and is transmitted mainly by mosquitoes, especially mosquitoes belonging to the Aedes and Haemogogus species. The different mosquito species live in different habitats across the world, some breed around houses (domestic), others in the jungle (wild), and some in both habitats (semi-domestic). There are 3 types of transmission cycles captured below: UAV Drones To Help Fight The Zika Virus By Spreading Sterile Mosquitoes.

1. Sylvatic (or Jungle) Yellow Fever.

In tropical rain forests, monkeys, which are the primary reservoir of Yellow Fever, are bitten by wild mosquitoes which pass the virus on to other monkeys. Occasionally humans working or travelling in the forest are bitten by infected mosquitoes and develop Yellow Fever.

2. Intermediate Yellow Fever.

In this type of transmission, semi-domestic mosquitoes (those that breed both in the wild and around households) infect both monkeys and people. Increased contact between people and infected mosquitoes leads to increased transmission and many separate villages in an area can develop outbreaks at the same time. This is the most common type of outbreak in the African continent.

3. Urban Yellow Fever.

Large epidemics occur when infected people introduce the virus into heavily populated areas with high mosquito density and where most people have little or no immunity, due to lack of vaccination. In these conditions, infected mosquitoes transmit the virus from person to person.

Treatment of Yellow Fever

Good and early supportive treatment in hospitals improves survival rates. There is currently no specific anti-viral drug for yellow fever but specific care to treat dehydration, liver and kidney failure, and fever improves outcomes. Associated bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics.

Prevention and Control

Yellow fever can be prevented through vaccination and mosquito control. The Yellow Fever vaccine is safe, affordable and in some cases free, and a single dose provides life-long immunity against the the Yellow Fever disease. Mosquito control can also help to prevent Yellow Fever, and is vital in situations where vaccination coverage is low or the vaccine is not immediately available. Mosquito control includes eliminating sites where mosquitoes can breed, and killing adult mosquitoes and larvae by using insecticides in areas with high mosquito density. Community involvement through activities such as cleaning household drains and covering water containers where mosquitoes can breed is a very important and effective way to control mosquitoes. Latest: The LG K7i New Smartphone Can Keep Mosquitoes Away.

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