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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staff
Traveling to Africa or South America
Traveling to an area in which the yellow fever virus is known to be present puts you at risk of the disease. These areas include sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America.
Even if there aren't current reports of infected humans in these areas, it doesn't mean you're risk-free. It's possible that local populations have been vaccinated and are protected from the disease, or that cases of yellow fever just haven't been detected and officially reported.
If you're planning on traveling to these areas, you can protect yourself by getting a yellow fever vaccine at least 10 to 14 days prior to traveling.
Anyone can be infected with the yellow fever virus, but older adults are at greater risk of getting seriously ill.
- Monath TP. Yellow fever. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Yellow fever fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/yellowfever/YF_FactSheet.html. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Hayes EB. Flaviviruses. In: Long SS, et al., eds. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/146825972-7/857803487/1679/222.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06687-0..50221-6_4048. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Yellow fever: Frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/yellowfever/YF_Transmission.html. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Yellow fever vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/YellowFever/vaccine/index.html. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Repellent. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/insect_repellent.htm. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Travelers' health: Vaccinations. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/content/vaccinations.aspx. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Possible side-effects from vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm#yf. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 9, 2009.
