In most cases an infection is not too serious with nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, and back pain being just some of the symptoms. Around one in 15 people will go into a second ‘toxic' phase, which is fatal in 20 - 50% of these cases. This second phase involves many of the same symptoms of the first phase, but patients also often go yellow. This yellowing or ‘yellow jaundice' is as a result of damage caused to the liver by the disease.
But it is not just the risk of contracting the disease that should cause would-be travellers to take note of the need for inoculation against it. Dr Vincent explains that all South Africans trying to get back in to the country from recognised yellow fever areas without a valid vaccination certificate may be held under observation for up to six days, or vaccinated at their own cost. And, foreigners trying to gain access to South Africa from yellow fever areas without a certificate may not be allowed entry into the country and may be sent home or quarantined or vaccinated at their expense.
Other mandatory vaccinations are those specified by the Saudi Government which are against Meningococcal meningitis, yellow fever, poliomyelitis and influenza according to Dr Vincent, and travellers need to make sure they know what ‘shots' are recommended for travel to and from any particular country.
Travellers to Mozambique this holiday season do not require a yellow fever inoculation certificate for entry into that country as was reported recently. The Mozambican authorities say that a misconception about this was unfortunately created by the negligence of one of the staff members in their Department of Health.
