Travel Clinic - Yellow Fever Outbreaks

Recent reports of a yellow fever outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has highlighted the need for travellers to get vaccinated at a travel clinic. Staf at City Docs London travel clinics or their network of travel clinics across the country can advise you on the risks.

The news that yellow fever is sweeping through the south-west region of the Democratic Republic of Congo has raised the awareness of the need to visit a travel clinic before people travel. Ten people have reportedly died from the disease and 20,000 Congolese diamond miners have been expelled from Angola as UN aid steps in. For foreigners and aid workers visiting the area, it’s crucial they are up to date with vaccinations from their local travel clinic.

Travel Clinic: Yellow Fever Vaccination

Yellow fever can trigger hemorrhagic illness and is endemic in regions in South America and Africa. And throughout history, the disease has caused horrific epidemics. Attending a travel clinic is crucial to ensure you are immunized against the disease. Outbreaks are lethal, in the 1802 Haitian Revolution, the French army was devastated by yellow fever and outbreaks were common until the vaccine was developed in the early 20th century. Discovering the vaccine led to some human volunteers dying as a result of the research. And yet, today not everybody is clued up about the need to attend a travel clinic to be vaccinated when travelling in high-risk regions.

Shortage of Travel Clinic Immunisations Trigger Epidemics

Yellow fever is caught via a mosquito bite, and despite the availability at a travel clinic in the West for vaccines, around 30,000 unvaccinated people in developing nations die every day, with around 200,000 people contracting the disease. The yellow refers to the jaundice colour patients can suffer with; usually the impact of the disease is severe – which is why it’s so important that travellers attend a travel clinic. The virus travels through the lymphatic system, infecting the body’s vital organs. There are mild cases of fever and headaches, but more often it’s a severe illness. A travel clinic can advise you on the risks, but yellow fever often results in:

• Fever, chills, palpitations, pain in the back and head
• Vomiting and constipation
• Jaundice appears in the third day (yellow fever begins after 3-5 days incubation in the body)
• After the third day, symptoms appear to reduce only to return again more strongly
• Internal haemorrhaging results in vomiting blood
• Deliria and coma often lead to death

Choose CityDoc for all your Travel Clinic needs

At CityDoc, you can book over the phone or walk into one of our travel clinics in London and across the country for a same-day appointment. Don't travel abroad without ensuring that you've had the right vaccinations. CityDoc provides a complete travel clinic service, customized to your individual needs. Our pre-travel consultations are with experienced General Practitioners who will assess the impact of any pre-existing chronic medical conditions on your vaccine requirements. We have the full range of travel vaccines in stock including rarer vaccines such as Japanese Encephalitis. CityDoc is a registered yellow fever centre and is able to dispense anti-malarials directly from our in house pharmacy for your added convenience. Choose from our three travel clinic locations in London and Birmingham for ease of access.