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Preventative measures
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With no cure for Yellow Fever, anyone likely
to enter a Yellow Fever Zone must have a yellow fever vaccination and will, at any rate,
be required to present a Yellow Fever Certificate to prove it. |
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Vaccination
Safe and effective, the single Yellow Fever vaccination provides immunity within
one week for 95% of people who receive it and continues to give effective protection for ten
years. Yellow Fever Vaccinations should only be given at registered Vaccination Centres
that are able to provide the necessary certification. To date more than 300 million doses
have been given and side effects are extremely rare, although recently there have been a
few serious adverse outcomes reported in Brazil, Australia and the US - a second reason
for ensuring these vaccinations are not given in remote environments, but close to main
stream medical support.
'Yellow Cards' proving vaccinations are also required for travellers to non
Yellow Fever areas including Australia and Asia, to prevent trans-continental spread
of the disease. Travellers need to plan ahead to ensure their arrangements are not
curtailed by a local shortage of the Yellow Fever vaccination.
Anyone visiting or working in an area where the vaccine cover in the population
is low should be particularly alert to Yellow Fever symptoms. Prompt recognition of
symptoms is essential to prevent a rapid outbreak.
Avoiding mosquito bites
As with all mosquito-spread diseases,
visitors to tropical areas should avoid mosquito bites. The Aedis Aegypti mosquito,
a major culprit in spreading Yellow Fever, usually bites during the day so usual
precautions, such as wearing long-sleeved clothing and trousers apply round the clock,
not just dusk till dawn. Extra protection can be achieved by spraying clothes with the
insecticide, Permethrin. Exposed skin should be treated with an effective repellent
containing 20-35% DEET (N.N-diethylmethyltoluamide) which can also be sprayed in
living and sleeping areas. Always use a bednet if there is no window screening or
air-conditioning. Buy Jungle Formula insect repellent containing DEET and mosquito nets from our on-line colleagues at medekit.com.
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