Yellow fever
Yellow fever
Overview
Yellow fever is a serious viral infection that is spread by certain types of mosquito. It’s mainly found in sub-Saharan Africa, South America and parts of the Caribbean.
The condition can be prevented with a vaccination and is a very rare cause of illness in travellers.
Between 1999 and 2018, there were 12 cases of yellow fever reported among European travellers. None of these travellers were vaccinated, 5 of these cases occurred in 2018.
If you’re planning to visit places where yellow fever infection is found, you should seek travel health advice before you travel.
How yellow fever is spread
The virus that causes yellow fever is passed to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The mosquitoes that spread the infection are usually active and bite during daylight hours, and are found in both urban and rural areas.
Yellow fever can’t be passed directly from person to person through close contact.
Information about you
If you have yellow fever, your clinical team will pass information about you on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS).
This helps scientists look for better ways to prevent and treat this condition. You can opt out of the register at any time.
Find out more about the register.
Don’t include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions.
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
You should see a doctor as soon as possible if you develop symptoms of yellow fever and are currently travelling in an area where the virus is found, or have recently returned from one of these areas.
To help work out whether you have yellow fever, the doctor will want to know exactly where you have been travelling and what symptoms you have. A blood test will be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
There's no specific cure for yellow fever, but doctors can monitor you closely and treat the symptoms as they appear. You'll be admitted to hospital for assessment and supportive care.
Prevention
Yellow fever vaccination protects you when you travel to a country where the virus is present, and it also helps stop the disease from spreading from one country to another.
Once you have had the vaccine, you will be given a yellow fever vaccination certificate as proof that you have been vaccinated and are protected. This certificate is made to fit inside your passport and remains valid for life.
Some countries will ask to see this certificate before letting you in. This applies to countries where yellow fever is present, as well as countries that have the right mosquito and monkey species to potentially harbour the infection.
More about the yellow fever vaccine
Find your nearest yellow fever vaccination centre