Yellow fever is a viral disease found in tropical and sub tropical regions of Africa and South America. The virus is spread by infected mosquitoes, mainly the Aedes species. These mosquitoes pass the virus from one person to another through bites. Yellow fever infection is diagnosed using laboratory tests, a person’s symptoms, and recent travel history.
A safe and effective yellow fever vaccine has been available for about 80 years. In most cases, a single dose provides lifelong protection. The yellow fever vaccination is given to people aged 9 months and above. This vaccine is the best and most reliable way to prevent yellow fever infection, especially for travelers visiting risk areas.
Apart from vaccination, other prevention methods are very important. Travelers should use insect repellents, especially during daytime when Aedes mosquitoes are most active. Wearing long sleeved shirts, long trousers, and treating clothes with insect repellent helps reduce mosquito bites. Using mosquito nets and staying in places with screened windows also lowers the risk of infection.
After a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, it usually takes about 3 to 6 days for symptoms to appear. Many people may have no symptoms or only mild signs. However, some people develop severe illness. Anyone who develops yellow fever symptoms after traveling to tropical areas should seek medical care immediately.
Common yellow fever symptoms include fever, chills, severe headache, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, and weakness. In severe cases, symptoms can progress to high fever, yellowing of the skin and eyes, organ failure, bleeding, and shock. Severe yellow fever can be fatal, and many people with advanced disease do not survive.
There is no specific medicine that cures yellow fever. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. Patients are advised to rest, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid certain medicines such as aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs, which may increase the risk of bleeding.
Yellow Fever Vaccination in Congo
Before traveling to Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is very important to ensure that your yellow fever vaccination is up to date. A valid yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into the country. All travelers aged 9 months and above must present this certificate at border points and airports.
This requirement exists because the Aedes aegypti mosquito is present in the country, putting both visitors and local people at risk of infection. Yellow fever vaccination is considered valid for ten years according to entry requirements.
If a person cannot receive the vaccine due to medical reasons, a medical waiver must be issued by a qualified health worker. However, travelers should be aware that border officials may not always accept medical waivers, and entry problems can occur.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo introduced yellow fever vaccination into its national routine immunization program in 2003. Despite this effort, low vaccination coverage has contributed to repeated outbreaks. Between 2010 and 2019, six yellow fever outbreaks were reported in the country, showing the continued importance of vaccination for all travelers.
