Planning a trip to South America or Africa is exciting. You are likely focused on the sights, the food, and the adventure. The last thing you want to think about is a mosquito bite making you sick.
But Yellow Fever is one of those risks you simply cannot gamble with.
It is a deceptive virus. It starts about three to six days after a bite, and at first, it feels exactly like a mild flu. You might have a sudden fever, chills, a headache, or some back pain. You feel rotten for a few days, and then you start to recover. You think you are in the clear.
This is where the virus is dangerous.
For about 15% of people, that recovery is actually a false alarm. Within 24 hours of feeling better, a second “toxic” phase begins. The fever returns with a vengeance. The virus attacks the liver, leading to jaundice which turns the skin and eyes yellow. It can cause bleeding from the eyes or stomach and lead to organ failure.
The statistics from health organizations like the CDC are frightening. If the illness progresses to this toxic stage, the death rate is between 30% and 60%.
There is no magic pill to fix it.
If you contract Yellow Fever, doctors cannot give you a specific medicine to cure it. There are no antivirals that work here. Treatment is limited to supportive care, which means keeping you hydrated and managing pain while your body fights for its life. You even have to be careful with painkillers since common options like aspirin or ibuprofen can increase the risk of bleeding.
Prevention is your only option.
Since we cannot cure it, we have to prevent it. Fortunately, that part is easy.
The Yellow Fever vaccine is a single dose that offers incredibly high protection. It is the best tool we have to keep you safe. Depending on where you are going, you might even need to prove you have had it just to cross the border.
Don’t let a preventable illness ruin the trip of a lifetime. If you are traveling to a risk zone, come see us. We can review your itinerary, give you the protection you need, and make sure you have the official paperwork for your travels.
Let’s get you ready for your next adventure. Click here to contact us at JM Bee Travel Health.
Leave a Reply