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Yellow fever is caused by the yellow fever virus. There are many different types of the virus, but all cause the same disease.
Yellow fever is transmitted through the bite of the female Aedes or Haemogogus mosquitoes.This mosquitoes breed in stagnant waters and are common in tropical areas.The disease is now only present in South Americas and Africa.It is difficult to eradicate as the mosquitoes can survive in te dense jungles.
The symptoms of yellow fever include fever, chills, headache, backache,muscle pain ,nausea, and vomiting. Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) appears and worsen.Haemorrhage(bleeding) may occur. Bleeding can occur from the mouth, nose, eyes and/or stomach. Half of the patients afflicted with this disease die within 10-14 days.
Like many viral diseases, there is no specific treatment for yellow fever.Treatment is only to relieve symptoms and iif haemorrhage occurs, to replace lost plasma through transfusions.
A vaccine is available.This is effective and should be used when travelling to endemic areas.Other methods of avoiding yellow fever include :using mosquito nets and coils, wearing of long trouser and sleeves to avoid mosquito bites.
Yellow fever is called so because of the symptoms of jaundice associated with this disease.The patient's skin will turn yellow.It is aalso called "yellow jack" as in the past, ships with yellow fever victims have to fly a yellow flag.
