The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention state that approximately 4 million travelers to developting regions are ill enough to seek health care, either while abroad or upon returning home. While traveling internationally is
already a painstaking process, involving visas, careful planning, packing and
itineraries, a trip to the travel clinic must also be added to this list. The CDC notes
that in order to ensure a healthful business or tourist excursion, one must
adopt some preventative measures. In accordance with the Travel Health Notices
they publish consistently, are necessary travel vaccinations. One such is the
yellow fever vaccine. Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease
transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The "yellow" in the name refers
to the jaundice that affects some patients once bitten. According to the World Health
Organization, 50% of severely affected persons will die if left untreated. Given
these sorts of statistics, preventative measures are most responsible.
While there are
many reasons to get vaccinated for yellow fever, the acute rapidity of the
illness is most alarming. Once bitten, symptoms will ensue within 3 to 6 days.
The symptoms of Stage 1 infection include Headache, muscle and joint aches, fever,
flushing, loss of appetite, vomiting, and jaundice are common. Though symptoms
often go away briefly after about 3 to 4 days and stage 2 may be possible
remission, some persons worsen drastically within 24 hours. Stage 3, called
intoxication is marked by problems with many organs including heart, liver, and
kidney failure, bleeding disorders, seizures, coma, and delirium.
In order
to prevent these caustic symptoms and possible death, a vaccine should be
prearranged 10 to 14 days before traveling. Ultimately, alongside the three
pairs of bright swimsuits you’re packing, sunscreen and new shoes you bought
yesterday just for this excursion, should be travel vaccines. The yellow fever
vaccine is but one that may be necessary.
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