Yellow Fever - how to control it with immunization, insect classification and pesticide

Yellow Fever is a dangerous virus that has infected mass populations around the world. Use this informative online guide to learn how mosquitoes spread this disease.

Trace the origins of Yellow Fever with a look at its history, prevention programs, host insect classifications and pesticide.

Yellow Fever Virus

Yellow Fever ("the virus") is a well know mosquito hosted virus that transmits disease to humans and animals.

In several parts of the world, like Africa and South America, the virus is divided into two different strains. One strain causes outbreaks, and the other strain does not. All strains of the virus belong to the flavivirus family.

Mosquito Hosts & Insect Classification

Mosquitoes infect humans and animals with the virus when they feed. Both domestic and wild mosquitoes can transmit the disease. Insect classification is an important step in determining which areas are at risk.

The South American species of mosquitoes named Aedes and Haemogogus are well known carriers of the virus.

Virus carrying mosquitoes multiply through a chain of events:

• Biting an animal host
• Breeding
• Infected eggs

Animal hosts, like monkeys found in tropical rain forests, transmit the virus to a mosquito. Mosquitoes then pass the virus on to their offspring each year, creating a new cycle of the disease.

History of Yellow Fever

In popular history the virus is seen as a disease that plagues areas in Africa and South America.

Although it has caused large epidemics in tropical areas, the history of the virus does not begin there. The first cases of the virus date back four hundred years, with outbreaks in Europe, the Caribbean, Central and North America.

Today areas of the world that are considered high risk are:

• Africa
• Bolivia
• Columbia
• Ecuador
• Peru

In the past 20 years, the numbers of fever cases has increased. Some attribute this to more mosquito habitats, deforestation, urbanization, and international travel.

The basic theory is that more and more people are coming into contact with infested mosquitoes than ever before.

In March 1998, WHO outlined new tactics to prevent the further spread of the virus. This includes insect classification, pesticide use, plans for further immunizations of infected areas, and the destruction of mosquito habitats.

Symptoms

The severity of the Yellow Fever virus ranges from mild to strong. Some people experience no symptoms, while others do react. In some cases, people can become gravely ill and even die.

After the initial incubation period of 3-6 days, the symptoms of the virus will begin to occur in 2 distinct stages.

Here are some noted symptoms of the first phase of the virus:

• Fever
• Shivers
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Nausea/Vomiting

Along with these symptoms, people may experience backaches and loss of appetites. Another sign of the virus is a fever accompanied by a slow pulse.

With a mild virus reaction, the patient should begin to recover after 3-4 days. An unlucky 15% of infected people will enter a toxic phase, 24 hours after the first fever. Symptoms become more severe and can damage the body permanently.

The second phase of virus is marked by these symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Bleeding
• Jaundice

Blood will appear in the vomit and the feces and may leak from the mouth, nose or eyes.

At this stage, the patient’s body will begin to shut down, losing kidney function and in some cases the liver fails as well.

It is possible for a patient to survive the second, toxic phase of the virus, with hope of a full recovery.

Yellow Fever Treatment

Treating the Yellow Fever virus at its earliest stage can be difficult. The main reason is that it is often mistaken for another virus or disease.

For instance, the virus has similar symptoms as Malaria, Typhoid, Lassa, Dengue, Viral Hepatitis and more. The best way to accurately diagnose the virus early is to insist on a blood analysis test.

Treating the virus means that you are treated for the symptoms. For instance, you will be treated for dehydration, fever and infection, but not for the disease itself.

Prevention

The best known way to prevent this dangerous virus is through vaccination. Ironically, the countries that need vaccinations the most cannot afford to supply it on a mass scale.

Other ways to combat the virus is with mosquito control, insect classifications and pesticide. Destroying mosquito breeding grounds like murky bodies of water, is also an effective way to reduce the cases of the virus.

Spraying mosquito pesticides in high risk areas is a method employed to ensure the destruction of mosquito habitats. Unfortunately, pesticides do contain poison and can cause other health problems.

Although there is no proof that any type of vaccination is completely safe, there are times when this is the only effective measure against this virus. Studies have shown that vaccinations do in fact save many lives.

Please visit our merchants for more information on mosquito protection, insect classification, pesticide and more. Read through the rest of this site for more on mosquito hosted viruses.

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Also see: [ Mosquito Magnets ] [ Outdoor Mosquito Control Systems ]