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Yellow fever
What is it?
Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease. Illness ranges in severity from an influenza-like syndrome to severe hepatitis and haemorrhagic fever. Yellow fever is caused by a virus that is maintained in nature by transmission between non-human primates and mosquito vectors. In some situations, humans may serve as the primary hosts.
Where is it found?
The disease occurs only in Africa and tropical South America, where it is endemic and occasionally epidemic. In Africa, where most cases are reported, a variety of mosquitoes is responsible for the disease. The fatality rate is less than 20 per cent, and infants and children are at greatest risk for infection. In South America, most cases occur in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru.
The risk to travelers depends on immunisation status, location, season, duration of exposure, activities and the rate of yellow fever virus transmission at the time.
The incidence of yellow fever in South America is lower than in Africa because virus transmission between monkeys and mosquitoes is isolated from human contact.
The risk of illness and death is lower in South America than in West Africa, but the risks vary greatly according to specific location and season. The most dangerous time of year is during the late rainy and early dry seasons (July–October) in East Africa and during the rainy season (January–March) in Brazil.
Australia’s Yellow Fever Requirements
The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) is responsible for developing and maintaining human quarantine and public health policy in Australia. AQIS’ responsibilities are limited to the administration of specific human quarantine functions at Australian international air and sea ports.
Further information on Yellow Fever (e.g. vaccination requirements for travel and approved Australian yellow fever vaccination providers) is available on DoHA’s yellow fever fact sheet.