Prevention and control

Vaccination

• vaccination - this is the definitive method of protection - can offer protection for more than 10 years
• is a live, attenuated preparation
• the following group of people should be vaccinated
  • laboratory workers handling infected material
  • persons aged nine months or older who are travelling to countries that require an International Certificate of Vaccination for entry
  • persons aged nine months or older who are travelling to or living in infected areas or countries in the yellow fever endemic zone, even if these countries do not require evidence of immunisation on entry
• vaccination is contraindicated in
  • those aged five months or under
  • immunosuppressed patients
  • individuals who are hypersensitive to eggs or any of the components of the vaccine
  • those who have a thymus disorder (1)
• vaccine should not be given to pregnant women because of the theoretical risk of fetal infection from the live virus vaccine. When travelling to high-risk area (in unavoidable situations) the risk from the disease and the theoretical risk from the vaccine have to be assessed on an individual basis

Mosquito control and bite avoidance

• the risk of exposure is reduced via the use of mosquito repellents, full-cover clothing and screened housing
• control: eradication of breeding places of the vectors of the disease by applying insecticides to water where they develop in their earliest stages

Reference:

• (1) World Health Organization (WHO) 2013. Fact sheet. Yellow fever