The scientific name of yellow fever is Coquillettidia fuscopennata. Although the scientific name might be unpronounceable for many people but this infectious viral disease is a reality in many parts of South America and also sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is known to kill around 30,000 people each year.

The virus is transmitted to human through a bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. Once the virus enters the body, it will incubate for around three days to six days. Thereafter, the infection occurs in one phase or two phases. The first phase is where the infected person suffers from fever, rigor, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, pain the muscles, extreme pain in the back and headaches. Usually majority of the patients tend to get better following the first phase of the infection. Most of the symptoms of the disease tend to go away after the first three to four days.

However, some of the patients, who do not recover after the first phase, enter the second phase. It is estimated that around fifteen percent of the patients struck down by yellow fever enter this phase in 24 hours after the symptoms of the first phase abate. The second phase of yellow fever is characterized by high grade fever and jaundice. In addition, he will also suffer from pain in the abdomen and vomiting. The patient can experience hemorrhage through stomach, mouth, nose and/or eyes. The moment a person starts hemorrhaging, blood will also make an appearance in the stools and vomit. Then the kidneys begin to fail. Once a person enters the second phase, he will usually succumb to in within the next ten to fourteen days. However, some patients do recover but sustain severe damage to the affected organs.

In the initial stages, it is quite difficult to diagnose the disease. Often the doctors mistake it to be typhoid, malaria, hepatitis or dengue. However, there are blood tests available that help to identify antibodies related to yellow fever. Also a sample of the liver can be taken once the patient succumbs to the disease to confirm the cause of death.

Yellow fever can be transmitted from one infected person to another or from an infected monkey to a human through the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Unfortunately there is no specific treatment for the disease. A person with yellow fever should get ample rest and fluids.

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