The Yellow Fever Mosquito
Yellow Fever Mosquito (Aedes aegypti): The Yellow Fever mosquito, also known as Aedes aegypti, is the main suspect responsible for transmitting the Yellow Fever virus around the place. She can also give you dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika fever, and Mayaro , depending on where you are on the planet.
She (only the female Aedis is lethal), is tiny. From 4 to 7 mm in total size. Active day and night. Making them even more of a significant threat. They thrive in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of Africa, South America, and Asia. Female mosquitoes transmit the virus when they bite an infected person and subsequently feed on another individual.
Wherever you go, look out for Yellow Fever warnings and ask around.
Yellow Fever
Yellow Fever is a viral disease caused by the Yellow Fever virus. Mosquitoes, ticks and other arthropods do the distribution. It primarily occurs in tropical and subtropical areas, where the virus jumps between mosquitoes and non-human primates (such as monkeys). Then the mosquitoes bite us and we get it.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Yellow Fever include fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). In severe cases, it can lead to organ failure and death.
This is a serious disease and you need to know all about it. It feels like malaria, but ten times worse.
Treatment
Unfortunately, there is NO specific antiviral treatment for Yellow Fever. All you can try to do is to manage symptoms and complications.
Treatment…
Hydration: Ensuring adequate fluid intake to prevent dehydration.
Pain Relief: Providing pain relievers (such as Paracetamol, known as Acetaminophen in the US) to alleviate discomfort.
Hospitalization: Severe cases require hospitalization for close monitoring and supportive measures.
Healthy Diet: it is essential to eat fresh fruit and vegetables and to avoid anything unhealthy like alcohol.
Preventive Measures
Vaccination: The single most crucial preventive measure is vaccination. Before travelling to Yellow Fever-endemic areas, individuals should receive the Yellow Fever vaccine. Check with healthcare providers for recommendations based on your travel plans.
Mosquito Bite Prevention
Insect Repellent: Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing active ingredients like DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE). Apply as directed, even for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to minimize skin exposure.
Permethrin-Treated Clothing: Treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated items. Permethrin repels and kills mosquitoes.
Screens and Air Conditioning: Use screens on windows and doors, repair holes, and use air conditioning if available.
Remove Standing Water: Empty and scrub containers that hold water (e.g., tyres, buckets, flowerpots) to prevent mosquito breeding.
Mosquito Nets: Cover kids and babies as much as possible -with mosquito netting.
Avoid Peak Mosquito Activity: – unfortunately, these mosquitoes bite during the day and the night, unlike Anopheles.
Prevention beats the cure for this disease by a million miles.
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