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Yellow Fever In Africa

Yellow Fever in Africa occurs in a belt across the central zone of the continent. Fortunately it is one of the few arbovirus infections that has an available vaccine.

Dark area denotes Yellow Fever countries

Yellow Fever Facts

Yellow Fever caused by a virus, which is spread via the bite of an infected mosquito. It is found in tropical areas of Africa.
Yellow Fever in Africa is recognised in two different forms - urban and jungle. 'Urban Yellow Fever' occurs when an infected person enters a densely populated area and is spread from person to person by any type of mosquito. 'Jungle Yellow Fever' is essentially a disease of monkeys living in tropical rainforests is spread to humans by rainforest mosquitoes.

Yellow Fever Symptoms

Yellow Fever symptoms may be mild at first and go unrecognized - headaches, fevers, abdominal pain.
After a short while though, things may get get serious with shock, bleeding, kidney and liver failure. The liver failure is associated with jaundice - hence the name Yellow Fever.

Yellow Fever Shot Reactions

As with any vaccination there maybe mild reaction symptoms to yellow fever shots like soreness at the injection site, fever and aches.
Rarely there are severe allergic responses which need prompt medical attention.
Elderly people are considered to have a slightly increased risk of serious side effects from the Yellow Fever vaccination. It is important they take their physician's advice on this.

Summary For African Travellers and Hunters

Any hunter or traveller going to areas where Yellow Fever is endemic is at risk.
Hunters should obtain the necessary yellow fever vaccination when travelling to endemic areas of the world.
Yellow Fever vaccine may only be obtained at approved vaccination centres.
Yellow Fever vaccination requires a booster after 10 years.
Confusion still exists as to which countries require a compulsory Yellow Fever certificate. A Yellow Fever Certificate is the ONLY internationally regulated certificate. The WHO recommends it for all travellers to endemic areas, as well as for those coming from an endemic area to an area of potential transmission. The purpose of the certificate is not only to protect the traveller but to also protect those in areas of the world where infection is possible.
It is essential to plan ahead if you know you need the yellow fever shot, due to occasional shortages of the vaccine.
Take the usual precautions against mosquito bites - cover exposed skin and use effective insect repellents.