Yellow fever is a viral infection associated with travelers from endemic countries. A preventive and effective vaccine is available and highly recommended. No cure is, however, available.

Yellow fever is a viral infection transmitted by a mosquito. It concerns more people traveling in the most exposed countries.

This infection is widespread in parts of Africa, South and Central America and the Caribbean. A preventive vaccine helps limit yellow fever.

The diagnosis of yellow fever is essentially based on the identification of the characteristic symptoms, by clinical examinations or by biological analyzes in the laboratory. No specific curative treatment is currently available. Management is therefore carried out on the basis of the treatment of the symptoms presented by the patient.

Preventive measures make it possible in particular to limit the risk of transmission: repellents, protective clothing, mosquito nets, and of course, the vaccine.

Yellow fever is an infection caused by an RNA virus, such as Flavivirus. This virus is transmitted through a bite by a mosquito, previously infected.

Today, 47 countries have been counted as being “at risk” (34 in Africa and 13 in America). These countries are said to be endemic.

In 2013, between 84 and 000 individuals were identified, describing a severe form of yellow fever. Of these cases, between 170 and 000 died from it.

Some non-endemic countries may have cases of yellow fever. These are then transmissions from an infection of travelers from endemic countries. In this sense, prevention, and in particular vaccination, is often promulgated in non-endemic countries.

Once the virus is transmitted, an incubation period (without visible symptoms), extends between 3 and 6 days.

Some patients may not have any symptoms. Nevertheless, the clinical signs most often found in the context of an infection by the virus are:

• a feverish state
• muscle pain, especially in the back
• of the headaches
• loss of appetite
• of the nausea et vomiting.

Symptoms subside quickly and usually go away within 3 to 4 days.

In rarer cases, a recurrence of these symptoms may occur within 24 hours. This is then the toxic phase of the disease. In this context, intense fever, and affections of several parts of the body can be related to it. These attacks can be hepatic, renal, or even muscular. In this sense, liver damage leads to an increased risk of jaundice, or abdominal pain with vomiting. Bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes and stomach can also be associated with this toxic phase.

The diagnosis of yellow fever is difficult to make, especially during the first phase of infection. Blood tests and antigenic tests can confirm or rule out the diagnosis.

The major risk factor for such an infection is travel to countries at endemic risk, without any preventive measure.

The best way to prevent yellow fever is with a preventative vaccine. This vaccine is effective for the entire life of the individual. It is widely recommended from the age of 9 months. This vaccine may however be compulsory for a traveler to one of the endemic countries.

Other means of prevention are also possible: mosquito nets, repellents, etc.

No curative and specific treatment for yellow fever has yet been developed.

Medication management is then combined with medication against the symptoms: fever, vomiting, muscle pain, liver damage, etc. As part of an additional bacterial infection, antibiotic therapy may be associated with it.