PEOPLE intending to travel to yellow fever-affected areas now have greater access to yellow fever vaccinations.

This as the Ministry of Health has increased the number of days yellow fever vaccinations are administered. The decision was made based on the increase in the number of people attending health centres recently for thisr vaccination.

The new schedule to access yellow fever vaccinations started on Monday, May 30, 2016. The vaccinations will be administered at the Slipe Pen Road Comprehensive Health Centre in Kingston on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm; and the Montego Bay Type 5 Health Centre in St James every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

The cost is $1,500 per vaccine. It is also advised that the vaccines be administered at least 10 days prior to travel. In order to reduce waiting time, people, especially groups, are being asked to make appointments.

The Ministry of Health is reiterating the importance of people getting vaccinated when travelling to or transiting through affected countries, as has always been required. The ministry recently increased public education on the matter in light of the current yellow fever outbreak in Angola and ongoing transmission in the Americas.

Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton says: “We are trying to make the public aware of this possible threat and in so doing, reduce the risk of persons becoming ill by encouraging everyone to get vaccinated once travelling to or transiting through an area with risk of yellow fever transmission.”

What is yellow fever?

An acute illness caused by the yellow fever virus, which is found in the tropics of South America and Africa; not endemic to the Caribbean. It affects people of all ages.

How is yellow fever spread?

Through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. Mosquitoes may acquire the virus for life by biting either infected monkeys or infected humans. It is not spread from person to person.

What are the signs and symptoms?

The incubation period is three to six days.

First phase (acute): Symptoms may be mild and go unnoticed, or severe, affecting many organ systems. Symptomatic illness begins with fever, chills, headache, backache, general muscle pain, upset stomach, and vomiting.

Most patients improve and their symptoms disappear after three to four days.

Second phase (toxic): Approximately 15 per cent of patients enter a second, more toxic phase within 24 hours of the initial remission.

If the disease progresses, weakness, jaundice, bleeding of the gums, haematemesis (vomiting of blood) and blood and protein in the urine may occur. Bleeding occurs because of problems with clotting of blood. This is why yellow fever is referred to as a “haemorrhagic fever”.

Illness usually lasts two weeks, after which the patient either recovers or dies. Persons who recover from yellow fever have lifelong immunity.

How is yellow fever diagnosed?

Diagnosis of yellow fever is difficult because its signs and symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, such as hepatitis, malaria, dengue, and typhoid fever. Any person who develops jaundice within two weeks of a fever, and has recently returned from travel in a yellow fever-endemic area, or has been in contact with a return traveller, should be tested for yellow fever.

Blood tests can detect yellow fever antibodies produced in response to the infection.

What are the complications?

• Liver and renal failure

• Death

How is yellow fever treated?

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever. Dehydration and fever can be corrected with oral rehydration solution and acetaminophen (example paracetamol, Tylenol). Any superimposed bacterial infection should be treated with an appropriate antibiotic.

Population at risk

At risk are 44 endemic countries in Africa and Latin America, with a combined population of over 900 million. In Africa, an estimated 508 million people live in 31 countries at risk. The remaining population at risk are in 13 countries in Latin America, with Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru at greatest risk.

Small numbers of imported cases occur in countries free of yellow fever.

How is yellow fever prevented?

Immunisation with yellow fever vaccine.

The yellow fever vaccine is safe and affordable, and a single dose provides life-long immunity against the disease.

Given to Jamaicans travelling to high risk or endemic countries, the vaccines can be obtained through designated clinics in each region. These clinics provide the International Certificate of Vaccination required for travel to yellow fever-endemic countries.

When it is given to travellers requiring an International Certificate of Vaccination for entry into an endemic or high-risk country, it should be given at least 10 days prior to travel.

Persons 12 months of age and older may receive it. It should not be given to children under six months of age.

Control of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

Mosquito control includes eliminating sites where mosquitoes can breed and killing adult mosquitoes and larvae by using insecticides in areas with high mosquito density.

Community involvement through activities such as cleaning household drains and covering water containers where mosquitoes can breed is a very important and effective way to control mosquitoes.

Yellow fever is a Class I notifiable disease. Suspected cases should be reported to the parish health department within 24 hours, so that a case investigation and disease prevention and control measures may be put in place.

Information taken from the Ministry of Health’s website: www.moh.gov.jm