What is yellow fever?

Yellow fever is a disease that can cause severe illness and even death. It is called yellow fever because in serious cases, it causes jaundice (yellow skin).

Yellow fever is part of a group of illnesses called viral haemorrhagic fevers.

What are the symptoms of yellow fever?

After being bitten by an infected mosquito, the symptoms of yellow fever can take 3 to 6 days to appear.

Initial symptoms include:

• fever and chills
• body aches and pains
• nausea and vomiting
• headache
• fatigue (tiredness) and weakness
• red eyes

Most people recover after 2 to 6 days.

Some people develop more severe symptoms. These include:

• abdominal (tummy) pain and vomiting
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• bleeding from the mouth or nose
• internal bleeding or bruising
• shock
• organ failure

Many people who develop severe yellow fever die after 10 to 14 days, even with intensive care management.

What causes yellow fever?

Yellow fever is caused by the yellow fever virus. The virus is spread by being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Yellow fever is usually spread by:

• Haemagogus mosquitoes
• Aedes mosquitoes, also known as the dengue mosquito

It is found in parts of:

• Africa
• Central America
• South America

If you are travelling to these countries, you need to avoid mosquito bites and be vaccinated to prevent catching yellow fever.

When should I see my doctor?

If you have symptoms of yellow fever, visit a doctor immediately. People with yellow fever need to go to hospital to manage their symptoms. Some people with yellow fever need intensive care in hospital.

How is yellow fever diagnosed?

Yellow fever can be hard to recognise. Early symptoms of yellow fever are similar to many other illnesses.

Doctors can diagnose yellow fever with a blood test.

How is yellow fever treated?

People with yellow fever usually need to stay in hospital for treatment. If your illness is severe, you might need to be looked after in an intensive care unit. Intensive care units have specialised health teams, and each patient is usually assigned a dedicated specialist nurse.

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever. Some symptoms of yellow fever, such as dehydration and fever, can be treated. Hospitals can provide supportive care if you are unwell.

It is important not to take medicines including aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen or naproxen). These may increase the risk of bleeding.

Can yellow fever be prevented?

You can prevent yellow fever by avoiding mosquito bites and getting vaccinated.

Yellow fever vaccine

Vaccination can help to protect you against yellow fever.

Vaccination is recommended for people who:

• work with the yellow fever virus in laboratories
• are over 9 months old, and are travelling to an area with a risk of yellow fever

Booster vaccination is recommended for people who:

• received their first dose of the vaccine while pregnant
• received their first dose of the vaccine while HIV positive
• will be staying in a high-risk area for a long period of time
• are travelling to an area with outbreaks of yellow fever, especially if they have had a stem cell transplant

Even if you have been vaccinated, you still need to try to prevent mosquito bites. Mosquitoes carry other serious illnesses including malaria, Zika virus and dengue fever.

Avoiding mosquito bites

To prevent infection from the yellow fever virus, try to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes in countries where yellow fever is present.

To prevent mosquito bites, apply insect repellent. The best repellents contain ingredients such as DEET (diethyltoluamide) or picaridin.

Don't use too much repellent on children and avoid their:

• hands
• eyes
• mouth

If you are pregnant, check with your doctor before using mosquito repellent.

You should also:

• Avoid going outside at dawn or dusk.
• Sleep under a mosquito net treated with an insecticide such as permethrin.
• Wear covered footwear and long socks.
• Wear loose, light-coloured clothing that covers your body — avoid tight clothing as mosquitoes can bite through these.
• Avoid wearing perfume or cologne, as some can attract mosquitoes.
• Use insect sprays or vaporising mats indoors.
• Remove containers of water from around your accommodation, as mosquitoes can use these to breed.

Travel and the yellow fever virus

If you're travelling to or from a country where yellow fever is a risk, there is a strong recommendation that you get vaccinated. If you’re older than 12 months of age and you've stayed overnight or longer in a yellow fever risk country 6 or fewer days before arriving in Australia, you'll be asked to show an international vaccination certificate. If you don’t have one, you can still enter Australia.

It's important to get your yellow fever vaccination at an approved clinic. You need it at least 10 days before you travel. You will get an international yellow fever vaccination certificate at the clinic.

You may need to show this to enter other countries after you have been in a yellow fever-infected area.

How can the spread of yellow fever be prevented?

Yellow fever is a nationally notifiable disease in Australia. If your doctor diagnoses yellow fever, they will tell your local public health unit and you will need to stay in quarantine (a special area away from other people).

What are the complications of yellow fever?

Severe yellow fever can cause organ failure and death.

Resources and support

For more information on yellow fever, visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's website.

For more information on travel, you can:

• check if there is a yellow fever risk in the country you are travelling to at Smartraveller.
• read more about travel vaccinations

For more information on immunisation in Australia, you can check:

• the National Immunisation Program Schedule
• the Australian Immunisation Handbook

If you need advice on what to do next, call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 to speak with a registered nurse, 24 hours, 7 days a week (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria).