Yellow Fever Virus

The yellow fever virus is a flavivirus (virus transmitted by mosquitoes) that is found in certain parts of Africa and South America. It is the cause of yellow fever. Transmission of the yellow fever virus can occur when a mosquito bites an infected human or monkey.

 

What Is the Yellow Fever Virus?

The yellow fever virus is a flavivirus (virus transmitted by mosquitoes) that causes yellow fever.
 

Where Is the Yellow Fever Virus Found?

The yellow fever virus is found in certain parts of Africa and South America.
 
In South America, sporadic yellow fever virus infections occur almost exclusively in forestry and agricultural workers, from occupational exposure in or near forests. Countries where this occurs include: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, and Peru.
 
In Africa, the yellow fever virus is transmitted in three geographic regions:
 
  • The moist savanna zones of West and Central Africa during the rainy season (most common)
  • Urban locations and villages
  • In jungle regions (to a lesser extent).
     
African countries where the yellow fever virus is located include:
 
  • Angola
  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Cape Verde
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Congo
  • Côte d'Ivoire
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • The Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Rwanda
  • São Tomé and Principe
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Uganda.
     
(Yellow Fever Virus Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD