A warning has been issued to holiday makers as important vaccines are “unavailable” for the next two to three weeks. Sanofi informed Natonac of the imminent disruption in the UK supply of yellow fever vaccine Stamaril.
Today's report on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website Travel Health Pro shows that the vaccine is expected to be out of stock for two to three weeks. The UK-based organization, Nathnac (National Travel Health Network and Center), aims to protect the health of UK travelers.
The shortage means that individuals traveling to certain parts of the globe will not be able to be vaccinated against this potentially fatal disease.
The NHS warns: “Yellow fever is a serious infectious disease spread by mosquitoes. It can be found in certain regions of Africa and South and Central America. If you are traveling to areas where you are at risk of developing it, you will need to be vaccinated against yellow fever.”
Yellow fever is a potentially fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It darkens the urine, causes severe stomach pain, eager to the skin and eyes, and induces bleeding from the eyes, nose, mouth, or stomach – severe cases are fatal.
African countries at risk of yellow fever transmission:
Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Benin, Ethiopia, Niger, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Nigeria, Burundi, Gambia, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Guinea, South Sudan, Chad, Guinea, Conare, Congo, Comot D'Ivoire, Liberia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali.
Central and South American countries at risk of yellow fever
Argentina, French Guiana, Suriname, Bolivia, Guyana, Trinidad, Tobago (specific to Trinidad), Brazil, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru.
In the event of a vaccine shortage, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises: “If the Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre (YFVC) is unable to provide a Yellow Fever vaccine during this vaccine shortage, the YFVC is expected to actively study local alternatives and direct travelers (this will be heard by travelers to participate in the event of a traveler seeking advice.”
“YFVCS is here to help travelers looking for the YF vaccine during this time of year:
Individual risk assessments are ensured and YF vaccinations are leviing travelers to alternative YFVCs that may be listed in the Nasnack YFVC Locator Database Contact Vaccine.
Check if you are at risk for yellow fever
If you are bitten by an infected mosquito, you may develop yellow fever. A mosquito carries a bite of the yellow fever virus during the day.
Yellow fever is very common in certain parts of the world, including:
Part of sub-Saharan Africa (a region below the Sahara Desert), part of South America, including Trinidad and Tobagopart in Central America
Yellow fever is not found in the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, or the Pacific Islands.
How to reduce the risk of yellow fever
If you are traveling to an area where yellow fever is found, there are a few things you can do to prevent mosquito bites.
Wear long sleeve clothing and pants to cover your arms and legs, especially early in the morning and evening.
Use insect repellents for your skin (ideally containing the ingredient DEET)
Close windows and doors whenever possible or use blinds or screens
Sleep under a mosquito net treated with insecticides, including during the day
Symptoms of yellow fever
Symptoms of yellow fever usually begin 3-6 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, but sometimes it can take some time to appear.
Several yellow fever symptoms are similar to the flu, such as:
High temperature head head chachel or ill or have an appetite pain, and generally feel unwell
These symptoms often last for three or four days. However, a small number of people have more severe symptoms within 24 hours of feeling better.
More serious symptoms include:
Your skin and eyes (yellow) Dark Piestmach with pain from your eyes, nose, mouth, or stomach – you may have blood in your vomit or poop
These more serious symptoms are fatal.
For more information about the NHS yellow fever, click here.
