SATURDAY, June 8, 2024 -- If tropical lands like South America or Africa are your travel destinations, getting yourself protected against yellow fever before you go is imperative, an expert says. Most folks bitten and infected may not show any symptoms. But others will develop symptoms within a week of the bite.
For folks unfortunate to develop full-blown disease, there's very little doctors can do since no known antiviral is effective against the illness. The best that can be done is what health care workers call "supportive care."
There are two key methods of preventing yellow fever before it starts, however: Vaccination and mosquito avoidance. “A yellow fever vaccineyellow fever vaccine is available and recommended for all persons nine months and older traveling to yellow fever-endemic regions, with some exceptions," Weatherhead said. "Additionally, some countries might require you to have the vaccination before you enter, and there may be some restrictions on going into a country if you have been to a yellow fever-endemic area." Once in an area where mosquitoes carrying the yellow fever virus might be found, a few simple steps can help you avoid getting bitten. They're basically the same measures you would use back home: wear long sleeves and long pants and use a bug repellant with DEET.
If you find yourself infected with yellow fever, "make sure you are hydrated and are controlling your fevers to help alleviate symptoms," Weatherhead said. "Acetaminophen would be the medication of choice. Avoid using anti-inflammatories like aspirin and other NSAIDs that could impact your platelets. Seeking medical care as soon as possible can be lifesaving.” Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.