Jungle yellow fever is also known as Sylvatic yellow fever. This disease is transmitted in tropical rainforests by mosquitos that bite monkeys. Humans travelling or working in the forest are bitten by the mosquitos that usually bite monkeys and can develop yellow fever as a result. Certain areas of South America and sub-Saharan Africa are the most common locations for jungle yellow fever cases to be diagnosed.
The early symptoms of jungle yellow fever are:
Patients will then enter a remission stage. At this point, many patients recover and do not experience symptoms again. However, some people enter stage 3 of the disease and show the following symptoms:
This form of yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes that breed specifically in the jungle. Those who are bitten by them might contract the virus. This condition cannot be transmitted to other people unless someone shares dirty needles with an infected patient.
The risk factors for jungle yellow fever are:
Diagnosis of jungle yellow fever is made after a doctor has collected a full medical history for a patient. If you have been working in a jungle region, working with monkeys near this kind of forest, or have travelled to the jungle in an at-risk area, blood tests will be done to confirm the yellow fever diagnosis.
This is a viral infection, so there is no cure for the condition. Supportive care can include intravenous fluids and supportive care for organs that have been impacted by the virus. Many people are admitted to the hospital for observation since this condition can be deadly in the later stages. Many people will not even know that they have had jungle yellow fever after the remission period, but those who are displaying more serious symptoms should seek immediate medical care.
Do not attempt to treat yellow fever with the use of over-the-counter pain medications as this can cause serious side effects and organ damage. If you think that you have yellow fever, you should seek medical advice from a doctor before beginning any form of treatment.
Prevention of this form of yellow fever is somewhat easier than urban yellow fever. The mosquitos that cause jungle yellow fever only breed in the jungle, which limits possible exposure for most people. If you work in the jungle or are going to travel to the jungle, you should wear mosquito repellent and make sure to sleep under a mosquito net. Make sure not to spend time near stagnant water in these areas as well.
There are vaccines for yellow fever, and you can protect yourself from this virus by being vaccinated if you have access to this preventative measure. This vaccine requires a booster every ten years to maintain your protective immunity.