Facts About Yellow Fever

-Disease, mutation, disfunction, or virus?: virus and disease
-Common name: yellow fever
-Scientific name: flavivirus and topotypes
-History of oResearched „XWhere: Philadelphia, Cuba, and South Africa „XWhen: 1800, 1881, 1901, and 1939 „XWhy: It was researched because so many people were infected who were coming to America, and so many people were getting infected by the virus who lived near the port. „XHow: It was researched with the Aedes Aegypti mosquito and studied the people who were infected by the virus. oDiscovered „XWhen: From 1793 to 1822 „XWhere: In port cities of the United States. oMajor Doctors associated with „XDr. Benjamin Rush,
Dr. Carlos Finlay, and Dr. Max Theiler.
-What it affects: It affects the immune system for life.
-Where it affects: It mainly affects the liver which destroys it and accumulation yellow bile pigments in the skin.
-When it affects: After you are infected, it takes three to six months for the yellow fever to develop.
-Why it affects: ?
-How it affects: ?
-Organizations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-Famous people infected: N/A
-Interesting Facts: Yellow fever was the first human microbial disease discovered to be caused by an agent.
It also could be filtered, and yet was smaller than any known bacteria.

What is yellow fever? You might think it is a fever that¡¦s yellow or you might turn yellow when you get this fever. You won¡¦t turn bright yellow, but the pigment in your skin will turn a little bit yellow. Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne and viral disease caused by a yellow fever virus. This disease happens in tropical and subtropical areas.
From 1793 to 1822 yellow fever was one of the harshest disease in port cities if the United States. Yellow fever was an exotic disease. Yellow fever was considered a disease of the tropics. It entered the lives of American men who voyaged to the West Indies.

We know today that yellow fever is a virus spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This mosquito has peculiar habits that we¡¦re still continuing to learn about. This mosquito prefers to live in urban areas. It breeds in clean standing water. It also feed during that day, so back in the 1700 and 1800¡¦s the mosquitoes must have had enjoyed the major port
cities. This mosquito has no trouble adapting to life inside a house. Back then, when windows were unknown, it had ready access to relatively protective environments. People usually got yellow fever from the bite of an infected female mosquito. The mosquito injects the yellow fever virus into the bite.

In the current discussion of global warming, many are warning that warmer temperatures will bring tropical diseases like yellow fever and malaria to the north.

Benjamin Rush was the first to recognize the disease as yellow fever in the 18th century. Then later in 1881, a Cuban physician, Carlos Finlay advanced the hypothesis that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes. Later in 1901, Walter reed also proved the agent to be virus. In 1939, the South African physician, Max Theiler developed a vaccine that confers immunity to the disease. Vaccination is required today for all people traveling between endemic regions and other parts of the world.

The disease was brought under control by methods of sanitation, including drainage of mosquito breeding grounds and quarantine ships arriving from infected areas.

Yellow fever causes 200,000 cases and 30,000 deaths each year. Most of the cases and deaths take place in sub-Saharan Africa. Africa also experiences the outbreaks of urban yellow fever. 33 African countries, with a population of 468 million people, are now considered at risk of yellow fever.
Yellow fever is also in ten South American countries and in several Caribbean islands. Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela are considered at great risk of having yellow fever.
Yellow fever can be recognized from historic texts stretching back to 400 years. Infections cause diseases from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. The ¡§yellow¡¨ in the name is explained by the jaundice that affects some patients, causing yellow eyes and yellow skin.

Yellow fever is a viral fever that transmits infections by mosquitoes. There are three types of transmission cycles. Sylvatic, intermediate, and urban. All three cycles exists in Africa but only urban exists in South America.

When people get infected with the yellow fever virus, they develop a lifelong immunity.
The incubation period of yellow fever is three to six days. I severe cases the onset is sudden, with typical symptoms. Like headaches, backaches, and fevers. The first stage is also characterized by nausea, vomiting, and presence of albumin in the urine. After the initial fever, the temperature usually returns to normal, but on the fourth or fifth day the temperature rises again.

The second stage is marked by jaundice, hemorrhage from mucous membranes, vomiting of blood usually characterized as black vomit of yellow fever, and fatty degeneration of the liver, kidneys, and the heart. The destruction of liver cells results in the accumulation of yellow bile pigments in the skin, giving the disease its¡¦ name.
Death usually occurs between the fourth and eighth day after the onset. In case of spontaneous recovery, convalescence is rapid, although jaundice may persist for some time. The disease never recurs, one attack providing immunity for life.

There is really no treatment known for yellow fever. People with yellow fever should drink plenty of fluids and rest. They should also be kept away from mosquitoes for the protection of others. Most people get better after a long recovery period.
The yellow fever can be prevented by a vaccination.
Travelers should also take precautions against mosquito bites when I areas with yellow fever transmission. Travelers should get vaccinated for yellow fever is found. I the United States, the vaccine if given only at designated yellow fever vaccination centers.

In summery over the past 20 years, the number of yellow fever epidemics has risen and more countries are reporting case. Mosquito numbers and habitat are increasing. In both Africa and Americas, there is a large susceptible, unvaccinated population. Changes in the world¡¦s environment, such as deforestation and urbanization, have increased contact with the mosquito/virus. Widespread international travel could play a role in spreading the disease. The priorities are vaccination of exposed populations, improved surveillance and epidemic preparedness. In March 1998, who held a technical consensus meeting in Geneva to identify obstacles to yellow fever prevention and control. Priorities identified included: prevention through routine immunization and preventive mass immunization campaigns; detection, reporting and investigation of suspect cases; laboratory support; outbreak response; vaccine supply; and furthering
research.