Yellow Fever Vaccination

The disease of Yellow fever is epidemic in almost 33 nations in the continent and 11 nations in South America. The are two different types or cycles of the yellow fever, they are the Sylvatic or the forest cycle and the urban cycle. The transmission of the disease begins when the vector mosquitoes, feed on the non human primates which are infected with the virus of the yellow fever. These mosquitoes pass on the disease to the humans, when they feed on the human blood. When the viraemic human returns to the urban areas, the local or the domestic vector mosquitoes spread the disease when they feed on the blood of the viraemic human. A big and severe epidemic arises when the population of the vector mosquitoes increases at a fast rate.

Even today the disease of yellow fever continues to be an issue of public health concern in many nations. An estimated statistics show that there are 200 000 cases of yellow fever and 30 000 deaths annually reported.

Some of the common preventive measures that are suggested to control the disease of yellow fever are as follows.

1. Including the vaccine of yellow fever in the routine of infant immunization program.

2. Mass Campaigning to prevent outbreaks in the high risk areas.

3. Controlling the breeding of the vector mosquitoes in the urban areas.

Yellow fever cannot be eradicated by any specific treatment. The bacterial infection can be treated by particular antibiotic. However vaccination still remains the only strongly proved method to prevent yellow fever.

The vaccine of Yellow fever is attenuated and a live vaccine. It is prepared on a chicken embryo. It is indented for persons staying in epidemic areas for about 9 months.

The following is the technical summary of the vaccine of Yellow fever.

* Type of the vaccine: The vaccine of the yellow fever is a live viral vaccine.

* Number of doses to be provided: One dose, 0.5 ml subcutaneously

* Prescribed schedule: a routine programmed immunization along with measles vaccine at the age of nine months.

* Booster dose: A booster dose is required after every 10 years.

* Special precautions to be followed: the vaccine is not to be given before the age of six months, and should be avoided during pregnancy.

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