This site is intended for US Healthcare Professionals | Connect with a Valneva representative

Yellow fever

Yellow fever is a viral disease caused by yellow fever virus (YFV), and is often found in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa and South America.1

Areas of risk

map chikungunya

Yellow fever virus is found in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa and South America2

Key facts

The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice seen in some patients.3

Yellow fever is transmitted via mosquitoes from monkeys to humans.3

prevention guidance

Most patients experience mild or no symptoms; however, 12% of patients with symptoms go on to develop serious life-threatening illness.1

Vaccinating for a visa

To prevent importing the disease, some countries in South America and Africa require proof of vaccination against yellow fever before they will issue the traveler a visa.1

Yellow fever at a glance

Primary vector4-6

Aedes and Haemagogus

Biting habits:

  • Aedes bite primarily during the day, sometimes at night
  • Haemagogus bite during the day

Symptoms7

Most common:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Backache
  • Muscle aches

Symptoms of serious illness:

  • Jaundice
  • Bleeding
  • Shock
  • Organ failure

Available treatment7

None

Prevention8

Protective measures and vaccination in accordance with CDC recommendations
Next: zika button arrow button arrow

References: 1. Traveler’s health. Yellow fever. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated September 22, 2022. Accessed March 13, 2023. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/yellow-fever 2. Yellow fever virus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated June 2, 2022. Accessed March 13, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/index.html 3. Yellow fever. World Health Organization. Updated May 7, 2019. Accessed March 13, 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/yellow-fever 4. Transmission of yellow fever virus. Yellow fever virus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated January 15, 2019. Accessed March 13, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/transmission/index.html 5. Mosquito bite prevention (United States). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 13, 2016. Accessed March 13, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/pdfs/fs_mosquito_bite_prevention_us.pdf 6. Li SL, Acosta AL, Hill SC, et al. Mapping environmental suitability of Haemagogus and Sabethes spp. mosquitoes to understand sylvatic transmission risk of yellow fever virus in Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022;16(1):e0010019. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010019 7. Symptoms, diagnosis, & treatment. Yellow fever virus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated November 7, 2022. Accessed March 13, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/symptoms/index.html 8. Yellow fever vaccine. Yellow fever virus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated April 21, 2021. Accessed March 13, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/vaccine/index.html