Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It's caused by the yellow fever virus, and the skin of people with the illness may turn a yellow colour, especially in serious cases.

Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and headache. These symptoms may take between 3 and 6 days to appear. Approximately 1 in 4 or 5 people with yellow fever progress to a more serious illness (known as the 'toxic' stage) which can lead to bleeding, kidney failure, liver failure and sometimes death.

Yellow fever does not occur in Australia. However, the mosquito species that can transmit the disease is common in parts of northern Queensland.

Major yellow fever epidemics have occurred in Africa and the Americas.

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