The yellow disease is a deadly disease caused by a virus that is spread by mosquitoes. It is a serious disease, but highly preventable. This disease is characterized by a high fever and jaundice. Jaundice, by the way, is a discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes, turning them into yellow due to an increased level of bile pigments in the blood.
Symptoms for the yellow fever are headaches, muscle aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weakness.
How do I catch yellow fever?
Yellow fever is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. On the other hand, mosquitoes get infected by feeding off the blood of an infected human. That is why though yellow fever cases are usually found in African and Latin American countries, the possibility of the disease reaching the United States is still highly possible because of the Americans who travel there. An American traveller can travel to Africa, then return home infected after getting bitten there by an infected mosquito. If this person gets bitten again by another mosquito here in the States, then it would be easy to spread here.
Human to human transmission does not occur, fortunately.
Treatment
If you or a family member has yellow fever, be sure to rest, drink lots of water, and take medications for the fever and pain. However, it is far much better to go to the hospital for observation.
There is no cure for yellow fever. There is a vaccine for it, and this vaccine is the best prevention for yellow fever.
Where to get the vaccines
Below are just some of the clinics that offer vaccination services to residents of North Carolina and South Carolina:
North Carolina
Campus Health Services (University of North Carolina Chapel)
Emergency Dr Rm 3 Chapel Hill NC 27599. Phone # 919- 966- 2281
Carolina Passport Health
9300 Harris Corners Pkwy, Suite 160 Charlotte NC 27599 Phone # 704- 921-5663
Cone Health Employee Health and Wellness
200 E Northwood St. Suite 101 Greensboro, NC 27401 Phone # 336 – 832- 3600
Lakeside Family Physicians
19485 Old Jetton Rd., Ste. 100 Cornelius, NC 28031
Passport Health Triangle
8450 Chapel Hill Rd, Suite 205 Cary NC 27513 Phone # 919 – 781- 0053
Wake County By and Through Wake County Human Services
10 Sunnybrook Rd. Raleigh, NC 27610 Phone # 919- 250- 3900
South Carolina
Clemson University Joseph F. Sullivan Ctr.
101 Edwards Hall, 200 Epsilon Zeta Drive Clemson SC 29634 Phone # 864- 656- 3076
Passport Health
260 W Coleman Blvd, Suite B Mt. Pleasant SC 29464 Phone # 877- 358- 8648
Passport Health
37 Villa Rd, Ste 301 Greenville, SC 29615 Phone # 877- 358- 8648
Please note that most of these clinics are per appointment only. If you are travelling to a country which may have the virus, please schedule an appointment. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Another great way to prevent the spread of yellow fever is to cut its source: the mosquitoes. If you have mosquito infestation in your home, you can call any of the pest control operators in North or South Carolina.
