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If you’re planning a trip out of the country, schedule a travel medicine visit to ensure you’re informed about current health issues related to specific international destinations. Other areas of the world face diseases such as yellow fever, a serious illness that can sometimes be fatal. If you’re traveling abroad, here’s a guide to this condition and how to protect yourself from it.

What Is Yellow Fever?

Yellow fever is a tropical virus that is endemic to Africa and Central and South America. The virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle aches, and vomiting may be present for three to four days after a bite. Like most viruses, yellow fever can impact people differently. For some, symptoms disappear after four to six days. However, if the disease progresses to the more severe form, it can lead to liver disease, jaundice, internal bleeding, and even death. Nearly half of all patients that contract the serious form of yellow fever die within seven to 10 days.

How Can I Prevent It?

travel medicineWhile there’s no cure for yellow fever, medical specialists can manage symptoms such as high fever and dehydration. Any bacterial infections that develop can also be treated with antibiotics.

To prevent issues, protect yourself from yellow fever with preventative travel medicine. Before visiting a foreign nation, talk to your health provider about any vaccinations you may need. Some countries don’t allow you to enter without proof of yellow fever immunization. The vaccine is a live, weakened form of the virus that lets your body build up a defense against the disease. It’s administered in a single shot that’s recommended for travelers over the age of nine months. To receive this shot, you may have to schedule a specialized travel appointment with your provider, so plan well ahead of your trip.

 

For preventative travel medicine, including yellow fever vaccinations, trust Hillside Family Medicine in Anchorage, AK. As the only facility in Alaska approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to distribute the yellow fever vaccine, this group of medical professionals offers all the care your family needs. Learn more about their services online, or call (907) 344-0200 to schedule a travel medicine appointment.

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