Yellow fever Travel Vaccination

Yellow fever is a serious, sometimes fatal, viral illness that is spread by a mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Fatality rates can be as high as 60 per cent.

Symptoms of yellow fever

Following a short incubation period – three to six days – the patient will experience yellow fever symptoms including sudden fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea and vomiting and jaundice. Most people recover after three or four days.

However, some patients progress to a more serious form of yellow fever and experience jaundice, bleeding from the mouth, nose and eyes. Bleeding from the gastro-intestinal tract will result in bloody vomit and stools. About half the patients who progress to this form of yellow fever will die.

Patients who recover from yellow fever have lifelong immunity.

If you get yellow fever symptoms while or after travelling in a region where yellow fever occurs, see a doctor and let them know where you have been.

Do I need a yellow fever certificate?

Global Travel Clinics is a registered yellow fever vaccination centre.

Many countries near to yellow fever zones will require proof of vaccination (an International Certificate of Vaccination) before you are allowed to enter, particularly if you are travelling from a place where yellow fever is present. If you cannot produce proof of immunity, you may be quarantined, immunised or refused entry.

The yellow fever map changes constantly and it can be quite hard to work out whether you need a yellow fever shot or not. Your travel plans will also dictate whether you need a shot to meet the entry requirements of countries that require a yellow fever certificate. Make sure you discuss your complete itinerary with your adviser at our central London travel clinics. If your travel plans change, seek further advice.

Travellers at risk

You are at risk of exposure to yellow fever if you will be staying in, passing through or living in an area where the disease occurs. You also need the shot if you are travelling through a country that requires an International Certificate of Vaccination.

Countries with a yellow fever risk

Yellow fever can be contracted in tropical parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean and most of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Yellow fever is most common during the rainy season.

For detailed information see the yellow fever maps on NHS Fit for Travel.

Prevention

The mosquito that spreads yellow fever bites mainly during daylight hours and is found in towns and in the country. The vaccine is a first line of defence, and avoiding mosquito bites will give you further protection against yellow fever, as well as against other mosquito-borne illnesses such as Chikungunya, malaria, Dengue fever etc.

To avoid bites from mosquitoes and other insects wear clothing that provides full coverage and use insect repellents containing DEET.

See our blogpost for more information about avoiding mosquito bites.