Yellow Fever

Yellow fever is found only in parts of Central and South America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Yellow fever risk areas can be viewed on a map here.

Yellow fever is a viral infection that is spread by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito which mainly bites during daylight hours.

The virus has a short incubation period of 3-6 days.

• The most common symptoms are fever, muscle pain with prominent backache, headache, loss of appetite, and nausea or vomiting.
• Infection with yellow fever results in lifelong natural immunity in individuals who recover.
• A small proportion of those infected with yellow fever will develop severe disease. Symptoms of severe disease include: jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, stomach pain with vomiting and problems with liver and kidney function.
  • Half of those that develop severe disease will die within 7 – 10 days.

Yellow Fever Vaccine

Stamaril® is the yellow fever vaccine that is available in the UK. It is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur and is made in chicken eggs. The vaccine can be given from 9 months of age, and may be given to infants from 6 months but only in special circumstances.

Stamaril® is a live vaccine, which means that it contains a weakened form of the yellow fever virus. Live vaccines do not cause disease in healthy people but are not suitable for people with an impaired immune system, for example, caused by drug treatment or underlying illness. This is because the weakened viruses can multiply and may cause a yellow fever like disease in these individuals.

One dose of yellow fever vaccine provides lifelong protection in most people. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are valid 10 days after vaccinations and provides life long protection in most cases..