What is Yellow Fever?
Yellow fever is a viral infection spread through the bite of mosquitoes carrying the infectious virus. There is a chance of death when the yellow fever virus infects humans because it can damage the liver and other internal organs. The World Health Organization discloses that every year, over 200,000 cases of yellow fever occur worldwide and result in about 30,000 deaths.
The two most noticeable symptoms of yellow fever are fever and skin yellowing. This is a condition that causes liver damage, which is why the color turns yellow. Some people develop yellow fever without any symptoms at all, whereas others experience symptoms three to six days after being bitten by a mosquito containing the virus. The majority of infected individuals have moderate symptoms, including fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and exhaustion.
Steps To Protect From Yellow Fever
- Use insect repellent – You can lessen your risk of developing the yellow fever virus by using a strong insect repellent, which creates a protective barrier and reduces the chance of getting bitten by an infected mosquito. In order to help prevent yellow fever, applying insect repellent is an essential preventive method.
- Cover your body with long-sleeved shirts and pants – Wearing clothes that cover your arms and legs helps to form a physical barrier that lowers the chance of mosquito contact and, in turn, lowers the risk of getting infected with the yellow fever virus.
- Control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors – When indoors, try using screens on windows and doors. Use chemicals or repellents to keep mosquitoes away from standing water outside, where they can nest. By using such measures, you maintain a complete approach to yellow fever prevention for the benefit of both individual and community well-being.
- Sleep under a mosquito net – You create an effective barrier against mosquito bites, which is the main way that yellow fever is spread, by sleeping under a mosquito net. This preventive approach is especially important in areas where the disease is widespread because it may greatly lower the chance of coming into contact with infected mosquitoes.
- Get yourself vaccinated – The yellow fever vaccination offers immunity and lowers the chance of getting infected, making it a very efficient prevention method. Those who receive vaccinations may improve their own health as well as the health of the community by preventing the spread of yellow fever. Getting yellow fever vaccination is very important for people who travel where the disease is endemic.
