Yellow FeverBy: Marissa McDaniel and Sonal Muthalali

What is a Virus?

“A virus is a cellular infectious particle consisting of a nucleic acid core surrounded by a coat of protein (Enger et. Al, 2009).”

Viruses are not considered living because they are not capable of living and reproducing by themselves. Viruses vary in shape and size which helps in classifying them.

Yellow FeverThe yellow fever virus

is transmitted by the bite of female mosquitoes and is found in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and Africa.. In the 19th century, yellow fever was deemed one of the most dangerous infectious diseases.

TransmissionThis virus is carried by mosquitos. If you are bitten with by a mosquito that is carrying this disease you have a great chance of contracting the disease (Pubmed, 2011).  When the mosquito next sucks blood, it injects its saliva into the wound, and thus the virus reaches the blood of the bitten person.

Symptoms • Irregular heart beat• Coma• Decreased urination• Fever• Headache• Jaundice• Vomiting• Severe Bleeding • Muscle aches (Pubmed, nd)2011)

Prevalence

There is an estimated 200,000 cases of yellow fever, causing 30,000 deaths worldwide, every year. The top three places that Yellow Fever is prevalent is Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone (KFF, 2011)

PreventionWhen traveling to an area prone to Yellow Fever occurrences, sleep in screened houses, use mosquito repellants, and fully clothe your body. Also, you should get vaccinated 10-14 days before traveling to this area (Pubmed, 2011).

Treatment There is no cure for Yellow Fever, but symptoms can be treated;• Blood products for severe bleeding• Dialysis for Kidney failure• Intravenous fluids (Health Guide, nd)

• Hospitalization is advisable and intensive care may be necessary because of rapid deterioration in some cases. Treatment is symptomatic.

Global Economic and Social Impact •Major public health

problem in Africa•Hardship and misery•Lack of help (NCBI,

2011)•Now is being very

popular and is getting researched.

Sources • New York Times. (nd) Health Guide: Yellow Fever.

[accessed 11 March 2013]. Retrieved from http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/yellow-fever/overview.html

• PubMed Health. (2011). Yellow Fever. [accessed 11 March 2013]. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002341/

• NCBI. (2011). Yellow fever in Africa: public health impact and prospects for control in the 21st century. [accessed 11 March 2013]. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12152484

• Enger E. D., Ross F. C., Bailey D. B., (2009). Concepts in Biology. New York, New York.