II. Epidemiology
- Endemic region (urban areas and jungles)
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Accounts for 90% of current cases
- Amazon basin of South America
- Insecticide spraying limits infections
- Sub-Saharan Africa
III. Pathophysiology
- Yellow Fever is an Arbovirus (arthropod-borne)
- Transmitted by Aedes aegypti Mosquito (or Haemagogus Mosquito)
- Incubation Period: 3–6 days
- Yellow Fever is a virus in the Flaviviridae family
- Flaviviridae are enveloped, Icosahedral single stranded RNA Viruses
- Flaviviridae are Message Sense RNA Viruses (Positive Stranded, +ssRNA)
- Message sense RNA (+ssRNA) are identical to Messenger RNA (mRNA)
- Like mRNA, +ssRNA may be immediately translated by host ribosomes into Protein
- Historically, became well known from the Panama Canal Project (1903–1914)
- Many canal workers were infected, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality
- Broad spraying of the Insecticides were later used to prevent infection
IV. Findings
- Onset of one week after Mosquito Bite
- Most cases are asymptomatic (55%) or mild (33%)
- Self-limited, mild febrile illness with flu-like symptoms
- Severe Cases (12%)
V. Prevention
- See Prevention of Vector-borne Infection
-
Yellow Fever Vaccine
- Indicated for travel to endemic region
- Required for entry into some countries
VI. Prognosis
- Severe Case Mortality: 20 to 50%