Did you know that yellow fever is spread by a specific mosquito? It’s scientific name is Aedes aegypti, but most people just call it the Yellow Fever Mosquito. It is the main carrier of this disease throughout all of the Americas and many parts of Africa. It will typically try to bite people and animals in the early morning or late afternoon, but if you’ve got enough artificial light around, a night biting might just happen as well. This is why the United States has worked to eliminate this insect, having officially eradicated it from the US and Canada.
Here are some other interesting facts about yellow fever that you may not have known already.
1. You Can Find It In Your Kitchen.
If you happen to open up a kitchen cupboard and a bunch of mosquitoes fly out of it, then there’s a good chance that the bugs are the type that carries yellow fever. If you are household is in a region where this mosquito is prevalent, then it is not strange for people to open up their cupboards or cabinets to find adult mosquitoes that carry yellow fever resting inside of them.
2. Vaccines Are Incredibly Effective Against Disease.
The vaccine for yellow fever is affordable, safe, and very effective. A single vaccine is enough to create sustained immunities and a person for lifelong protection. Boosters vaccines are not needed. It does take a little time for the vaccine to become effective, however, so those who plan to travel to a high risk area should receive their vaccine with a minimum of 30 days before the planned trip for best results.
3. It’s A Fast Worker.
Yellow fever incubates in as little as 72 hours. This fast-moving virus causes an infection that can occur in two different phases. The acute phase creates muscle pains, headaches, shivers, and a trademark fever which will last for about four days. About 15% of people move from the acute phase to the toxic phase and this is where the disease gets its name. The liver can be affected and internal bleeding is common. Half of the people who enter this phase of the disease die within 2 weeks.
4. There Is No Actual Cure For The Disease.
One of the problems of yellow fever is that it can be very difficult to diagnose. The early stages of the disease mimic the same symptoms of other series, so if blood tests are not available, there may be no way to confirm the disease until the liver is affected. Early treatment does not necessarily indicate a better chance for survival, but it will make the symptoms be less severe in individuals who do catch the disease.
5. The Last Major Outbreak of Yellow Fever in the United States Was in 1905.
It is believed that yellow fever actually came to the United States during the colonial times when mosquito larvae would be found in the water barrels on the ships that were bring in supplies and colonists to the New World.
Yellow fever isn’t as deadly as some other diseases, but it can create a lot of potential harm for those who wind up becoming infected. That’s why vaccinations are so important. They are the best weapon to use against it.