What Is It?

Yellow Fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease. Yellow Fever disease may be mild to severe. Mild symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal and muscle pains. More severe symptoms include hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever. Yellow Fever is a rare illness among travelers, but vaccination against Yellow Fever is important because the disease has a high mortality rate.  There are international Yellow Fever vaccination requirements and you will not be able to enter some countries prior to receiving the Yellow Fever vaccine.  In addition to Yellow Fever vaccination, travelers should take precautions against exposure to mosquitoes with appropriate repellents available at Passport Health. 

Where Is It?

Yellow Fever disease occurs in sub-Saharan Africa (where it is endemic), countries in South America, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago. Many countries that do not require Yellow Fever vaccination for entry, do require proof of the Yellow Fever vaccine if coming from an infected area. The Yellow Fever vaccine is also recommended for travel outside the urban areas of countries which do not officially report the disease, but which lie in the Yellow Fever endemic zone. Actual areas of Yellow Fever virus activity far exceed the officially reported infected zones. Fatal cases of Yellow Fever have occurred in unvaccinated tourists visiting areas within the Yellow Fever endemic zone. Some countries require a traveler, even if only in transit, to have a valid international certificate of Yellow Fever vaccination if he or she has been in a country either known or thought to harbor Yellow Fever.

The Yellow Fever Vaccine

Yellow Fever is preventable by a safe, effective vaccine. International regulations require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination for travel to and from certain countries. For purposes of international travel, Yellow Fever vaccine must be approved by the World Health Organization and administered by an approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Center. Passport Health is an approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Center. After obtaining the Yellow Fever vaccine you will receive an International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) completed, signed and validated with the official stamp. Because Yellow Fever vaccine is very safe and the disease risk is high, the CDC recommends this vaccine for adults and children over 9 months who will be traveling to high-risk areas.

Reactions to Yellow Fever vaccine are generally mild. Two percent to five percent of vaccinees have mild headaches, body aches and a low-grade fever, or other minor symptoms several days after vaccination. Immediate hypersensitivity reactions, such as rash, are uncommon and occur mostly in persons with a history of egg allergy.

Protection Against Yellow Fever

It is important to remember barrier methods, as there may still be a risk of contracting other mosquito-borne illnesses. Passport Health's controlled release insect repellent contains DEET in the appropriate concentrations for use on exposed body parts. Travelers should reduce skin exposure and use mosquito netting whilst asleep. Permethrin should be applied to clothing and netting for added protection.

Table 2-12. Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission¹

¹Countries/areas where “a risk of yellow fever transmission is present,” as defined by the World Health Organization, are countries or areas where “yellow fever has been reported currently or in the past, plus vectors and animal reservoirs currently exist.”

²These countries are not holoendemic (i.e., only a portion of the country has risk of yellow fever transmission). Please see above map for details.

As of January 2010.

Source: CDC Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): Yellow Fever - 03/30/2011 - Reference 42 U.S.C. §300aa-26

So, if you are asking yourself, "what travel shots do I need? or where to get the Yellow Fever vaccine", call 502-423-9799 or find the closest Passport Health travel medicine clinic nearest you.