What is Yellow Fever? What are the Causes and Symptoms? How to Prevent it? Current Short-Supply of Vaccination

by Alpha / May 01, 2017 06:44 PM EDT

Health clinic vaccinates residents of Brazil with the outbreak of Yellow Fever in Brazil

Did you know what are the causes of Yellow fever? It's caused by a virus spread by the bite of an infected female mosquito. As a result, symptoms like fever, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains and headache usually occur within five days. In 2013, there were 127,000 severe cases and 5,100 fatalities in 2015.

But "prevention is better than cure" and personal hygiene and keeping the indoor and outdoor atmosphere neat and clean can lessen the presence of mosquitoes. Use insect repellent like DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin for outdoor premises. Ensure to wear proper clothing to reduce mosquito bites. Generally mosquitoes bite during peak times are dusk to dawn which is why, EPA-registered repellent, mosquito net and proper long sleeves clothing is essential. Any waterlog or open sewage is a breeding place for mosquitoes. High levels of cleanliness is recommended.

Nearly 47 countries in Africa and Central and South America are potential areas for the spread of yellow fever according to WHO (World Health Organization) and U.S has been licensed to manufacture and supply vaccine globally. But this summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that yellow fever vaccine will be experiencing short supply and also released a report detailing a plan to ensure continuous access.

The yellow fever vaccine was developed by Max Theiler in 1930s who earned a Nobel Prize for the invention. A standard dose of vaccine offers a lifelong protection against this disease. Being in use since 1937, more than 650 million doses have been distributed in the past 75 years. Yellow fever vaccine is given as a single injection.

Sanofi Pasteur which produces the YF-Vax vaccine, is implementing restricted order after manufacturing problems affected supplies. The company expects the vaccine will be available mid-2018. ABC News reported.

The shortage is likely to affect tourist Americans who are taking trips to endemic areas. But doctors says that getting the vaccination is really important. Additionally it calls for people living in 18 countries to get the vaccination before allowing travellers to enter respective cities. Fox40 reported.

"If you are recommended to get it and for some reason are unable to get (it), then you should strongly consider not going," Tom Skinner, CDC spokesman says.