 What You Should Know About Yellow Fever:
Yellow fever is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through mosquito bites. Symptoms take 3-6 days to develop and include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Backache
- Muscle Aches
About 15% of people who get yellow fever develop serious illness that can lead to bleeding, shock, organ failure, and sometimes death.
Who is at risk?
You should receive a yellow card called the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) to prove that you have had yellow fever vaccine. Some countries require all travelers to show proof of yellow fever vaccination before they can enter the country. Other countries require proof of vaccination only if travelers have been in a risk area, so if you are visiting multiple countries, the order of travel may be important. Proof of vaccination is not valid until 10 days after you get the vaccine, so plan to get the vaccine early if you need it.
Travelers to certain parts of South America and Africa are at risk for yellow fever. See the box below for specific information about the country where you are traveling.
What can travelers do to prevent yellow fever?
Travelers can protect themselves from yellow fever by getting yellow fever vaccine and preventing mosquito bites.
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