By Risper Omanyo
Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhage disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The mosquito species that spread yellow fever is known as Aedes or Haemagogus. The mosquitoes acquire this virus by feeding on infected primates, both human and non-human. According to World Health organisation (WHO) good supportive treatment in hospitals improves survival rates. Since there is no specific antiviral drug for yellow fever currently.
Yellow fever disease is commonly found in parts of Africa especially Sub-Saharan Africa, tropical South America and parts of the Caribbean.
The disease can affect anybody regardless of the age or gender. When one travels to areas where the disease is present, her/she be at a risk of being infected. The people who at a higher risk of being infected with yellow fever include; pregnant women, infants aged less than 9months, HIV/AIDS patients and people with severe allergies to egg protein.
Once contracted, yellow fever incubates in the body 3 to 6 days. The symptoms includes; fever, muscle pain with prominent backache, headache, loss of appetite and nausea or vomiting. These symptoms disappear after 3 to 4 days. The disease mostly affects the liver and kidney. Hence on 10th of March, during the World International Kidney day people should be aware that yellow fever is among the things causing kidney problem therefore, there is need to eradicate it. The disease is difficult to be diagnosed during its early stages. This is because the symptoms are normally confused with malarial symptoms.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing in blood and urine can sometimes detect the virus in the early stages. Testing for antibodies is also needed (ELISA and PRNT). The disease can be controlled by draining stagnant water in the surrounding and through vaccination. Yellow fever is a threat to human life hence; there is a need to create awareness about the disease.
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