Intermediate yellow fever refers to when yellow fever gets transmitted to both monkeys and humans via mosquitos. In this way, intermediate yellow fever is unique from jungle and urban, but only in how a potential outbreak and transmission starts. Intermediate yellow fever can quickly turn to urban yellow fever if someone goes to a heavily populated area, gets bit by a mosquito, and spreads the virus from there.
As with other types of yellow fever, there’s no cure or true treatment for intermediate yellow fever. Therefore, the goal of treatment is to keep your symptoms as mild as possible, boost your immune system, and help you fight off the virus.
Intermediate yellow fever affects everyone differently and in varying severities. In most cases, however, it will cause fever, headaches, body aches, and nausea. To mitigate these symptoms as much as possible, you should take over-the-counter pain and fever medications, such as acetaminophen or Tylenol. However, you should steer clear of Ibuprofen, Advil, and other NSAIDs that could cause internal bleeding.
Aside from over-the-counter pain medications, excluding NSAIDs, there are also plenty of home remedies that can help you feel better.
In some cases, if you are very lucky, you will not require any treatment at all. Many cases of intermediate yellow fever resolve on their own within three to six days without causing dangerous or uncomfortable symptoms. As with all viral conditions, the virus simply has to run its course.
However, it is important to note that while many cases of yellow fever are mild, there are those that are very serious. Therefore, if you start displaying troubling intermediate yellow fever symptoms, such as headaches, fever, body aches, vomiting, fatigue, jaundice, and others, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Because there is no cure or real treatment for intermediate yellow fever, you should do whatever you can to avoid getting it. Even if you do not experience bad symptoms, it is possible that you could transmit the disease to someone with a weaker immune system than you have. Therefore, if you live in or are planning to travel to parts of Africa and the surrounding world with yellow fever outbreaks, you should get vaccinated.
The yellow fever vaccine is a one-time shot that you can receive at most health and medical clinics. The vaccine will help you build up immunity to the yellow fever virus. This means that if you get bit by a mosquito carrying the virus, your body will be able to fight it off and you will not contract the disease. Currently, vaccination is the best and only answer for those worried about intermediate yellow fever.
Even if you are not traveling to a part of the world with a yellow fever outbreak, you should consider getting vaccinated. There is always a chance that a carrier will come to your part of South Africa and transmit the virus via a mosquito bite.
If you do contract intermediate yellow fever, it is essential that you receive a diagnosis and treatment advice from your healthcare provider. You should also watch your symptoms and seek hospitalization if they become too unbearable. At a hospital, you can receive IV fluids and stronger medications that will help ease your symptoms and boost your immune system.