People commonly refer to jaundice as “yellow fever.” However, jaundice and Yellow Fever are actually two different conditions with very different meanings.

What Is the Difference Between Jaundice and Yellow Fever?

Jaundice is a condition that causes yellowish discolouration of the skin and the whites of the eyes, particularly in newborn babies. Jaundice occurs due to the accumulation of bilirubin when bilirubin levels in the blood become elevated, a condition also known as hyperbilirubinemia.

Yellow Fever, on the other hand, is an infectious disease. It can occur in two main transmission cycles: urban Yellow Fever and jungle Yellow Fever.

Urban Yellow Fever is transmitted from mosquitoes to humans, while jungle Yellow Fever involves transmission through infected mosquitoes in forest environments. Although reported human cases are an important indicator of disease risk, Yellow Fever may be underdetected in some areas due to high levels of population immunity and limitations in disease surveillance systems.

Individuals travelling to countries with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission in Africa, Central America and South America may be at risk of infection.

The presence of mosquito vectors such as Aedes mosquitoes in Asia also highlights the importance of preventing the introduction and spread of the disease. Malaysia remains vulnerable to imported Yellow Fever cases.

Causative agent: Arbovirus from the genus Flavivirus and the family Flaviviridae.

Mode of transmission: Bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Incubation period: Usually 3 to 6 days, or longer, after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Signs and Symptoms of Yellow Fever

Some Yellow Fever infections may be asymptomatic, meaning that the infected person does not experience any symptoms. However, symptomatic infections are usually acute and may occur in two stages.

Initial stage:

• Fever

• Muscle pain

• Headache

• Chills

• Loss of appetite

• Nausea and/or vomiting

• Bradycardia, or a slower-than-normal heart rate

Second stage:

After several days, approximately 15% of patients may progress to a more severe stage, where symptoms may return or worsen, including:

• Fever

• Jaundice

• Abdominal pain

• Vomiting

• Bleeding

• Death may occur within 10 to 14 days after the onset of the illness in severe cases

Prevention of Yellow Fever

Vaccination Requirements

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for individuals, including Malaysians and foreign nationals, travelling to or through countries with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission.

An International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis for Yellow Fever may also be required for travellers who transit for more than 12 hours through an airport in a country with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission, in accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 and Malaysia’s Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

Individuals without a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate may be quarantined upon arrival in Malaysia for a period of up to six days.

The International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever becomes valid 10 days after vaccination and remains valid for life. This lifetime validity has been in effect since June 2016.

Reminder for Malaysians Travelling to Yellow Fever-Endemic Countries

• Get vaccinated at least 10 days before travelling to a Yellow Fever-endemic country to allow sufficient time for protection to develop.

• Carry your International Certificate of Vaccination during your journey for health and immigration checks.

• Obtain the Yellow Fever vaccine from an authorised vaccination centre in Malaysia.

• Report to the relevant health office at the point of entry upon returning to Malaysia if required for health screening.

Source: MyHealthGov