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Yellow Fever Facts & Worksheets

Yellow fever is a viral disease that can be acquired or transmitted by a mosquito known as the Aedes aegypti. Yellow fever is a typically short-duration disease that can be diagnosed by symptoms like fever, chills, nausea, muscle pains, and headaches.

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Yellow fever is a viral disease that can be acquired or transmitted by a mosquito known as the Aedes aegypti. Yellow fever is a typically short-duration disease that can be diagnosed by symptoms like fever, chills, nausea, muscle pains, and headaches.

See the fact file below for more information on Yellow Fever, or you can download our 27-page Yellow Fever worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY OF YELLOW FEVER

  • According to historical traditions, yellow fever originated in Africa. According to an evolutionary study, the virus originated in East or Central Africa due to primate-human transmission, and the disease migrated to West Africa from there. 
  • The virus and the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti were most likely transported to the western hemisphere and the Americas by slave trade ships from Africa following the first European voyage in 1492.
  • However, as mentioned in Robert Wilkninson’s 1995 book Yellow Fever: Ecology, Epidemiology, and Role in the Collapse of the Classic Lowland Maya Civilization, some researchers have argued that yellow fever may have existed in the Americas during the pre-Columbian period because mosquitos of the genus Haemagogus, which is indigenous to the Americas, are known to carry the disease.
  • The first outbreaks of sickness, most likely yellow fever, occurred in the Caribbean’s Windward Islands, on Barbados in 1647 and Guadeloupe in 1648.
  • With the introduction of sugar plantations by the Dutch, Barbados underwent an ecological shift. The abundant woodlands in the 1640s were entirely gone by the 1660s. By the early 18th century, the bigger islands of Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Cuba had undergone a similar sugar plantation change.
  • At least 25 large epidemics occurred in North America, including one in Philadelphia in 1793, which killed several thousand individuals, accounting for more than 9% of the total population. 
  • The American administration, including George Washington, was forced to abandon the city, the country’s capital.

YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC IN HISTORY

  • According to the official death registry, five thousand or more persons died in Philadelphia during the 1793 Yellow Fever pandemic between August 1 and November 9.
  • Most of them perished of Yellow Fever, making the outbreak in the 50,000-person metropolis one of the worst in US history.
  • By the end of September, 20,000 individuals had departed the city, including federal, congressional, and executive authorities. 
  • Most did not return until late November, when the plague had subsided.
  • The mortality rate peaked in October before frost killed the mosquitos and ended the outbreak.
  • Doctors tried various treatments but had no idea what caused the fever or how mosquitoes spread the sickness.
  • Some surrounding communities declined to accept Philadelphia refugees for fear of contracting the disease. Major port cities like Baltimore and New York imposed quarantines on migrants and goods from Philadelphia, even though New York contributed financial assistance to the town.
  • Most British troops dispatched to Haiti in the 1790s died of sickness, most notably yellow fever. There has been much discussion about whether the number of deaths caused by disease was inflated.
  • An epidemic of yellow fever destroyed an army of forty thousand deployed by France’s First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte to Saint Domingue to crush the Haitian Revolution waged by enslaved people in 1802-1803.
  • According to some historians, Napoleon wanted to exploit the island as a staging area for an invasion of the United States via Louisiana.
  • Only one-third of the French forces survived to return to France, and Haiti declared independence in 1804.
  • The 1853 outbreak killed 7,849 New Orleans residents. The media and medical professionals did not warn the public about the outbreak until the middle of July, after over a thousand people had perished.
  • The New Orleans business sector feared their business would suffer if the city was quarantined due to an outbreak.
  • During such epidemics, steamboats routinely transported people and illnesses upriver from New Orleans to other communities along the Mississippi River.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

  • Most people who acquired the yellow fever virus will recover entirely and have no or minor symptoms. The average duration from infection to illness for persons with symptoms is 3 to 6 days. The following are examples of early signs:
  • A few people will get the condition in a more severe form. The following are examples of painful symptoms:

TRANSMISSION AND DIAGNOSIS

  • Yellow fever virus is typically transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes or Haemagogus species mosquitos. Mosquitoes pick up the virus from infected monkeys (human or non-human) and can then pass it on to other primates (human or non-human). The graphic below depicts how the yellow fever virus can be transmitted from animal to animal, human to human, and animal to human via a mosquito bite.
  • The doctor will confirm the diagnosis after observing the signs and symptoms and performing a blood test.
  • A blood test is required since the signs and symptoms of other disorders are similar. These are some examples:
  • dengue fever
  • leptospirosis
  • malaria
  • poisoning
  • typhoid
  • viral hepatitis
  • some other viral hemorrhagic fevers

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

  • Because there is no effective antiviral drug to treat yellow fever, the only option is to receive supportive care in a hospital.
  • This includes giving water and oxygen, monitoring blood pressure, replacing lost blood, performing kidney dialysis if there is kidney failure, and treating any secondary infections.
  • Some patients may be given plasma transfusions to replenish clotting proteins.
  • Mosquitoes should be kept away from the sufferer. If mosquitoes bite the sufferer, they will become sick and spread the disease to others.
  • Because of the danger of bleeding, they should avoid aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs).
  • A study published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases in 2014 found that alterations in white blood cells could be an early warning indication of deadly yellow fever. Based on some research, this could lead to better diagnosis and therapy.
  • Yellow fever has historically decimated communities, especially in Europe and the United States. Scientists produced a safe and effective yellow fever vaccine in the mid-twentieth century.

VACCINATION

  • Anyone planning to travel to an area where yellow fever is known to exist should get the vaccine 10 to 14 days in advance.
  • Some countries may require a valid immunization certificate before allowing someone to enter.
  • A single vaccine dosage gives at least ten years of protection and may safeguard the individual for the remainder of their life. The following are possible adverse effects:

PROTECTION FROM MOSQUITOS

  • Experts recommend the following steps to decrease mosquito exposure:
  • Avoid outside activities at dawn, dusk, and early evening, when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to cover as much flesh as possible in mosquito-infested locations.
  • Stay inside where there is air conditioning and good screening, such as window nets.
  • Apply permethrin-containing insect repellent on clothing, shoes, camping equipment, and bed netting, but avoid direct contact with the skin.
  • Some Asian countries are thought to be at risk of yellow fever epidemics due to the presence of both mosquitos capable of transmitting yellow fever and susceptible monkeys.
  • The disease has yet to be present in Asia. Some governments require prior immunization of foreign tourists who have been through yellow fever zones to prevent the virus from spreading.
  • Vaccination must be documented by a certificate valid for ten years after the vaccine. Although the WHO stated on May 17, 2013, that future booster vaccinations are not required, an older (than ten years) certificate may not be accepted at all border posts in all impacted countries.
  • Dispensation may be possible if the immunization cannot be provided. An exemption certificate issued by a WHO-approved immunization center is required in this situation. 
  • Although 32 of the 44 nations where yellow fever is found have vaccination programs, several countries have vaccinated less than 50% of their population.

Yellow Fever Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Yellow Fever across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Yellow Fever. Yellow fever is a viral disease that can be acquired or transmitted by a mosquito known as the Aedes aegypti. Yellow fever is a typically short-duration disease that can be diagnosed by symptoms like fever, chills, nausea, muscle pains, and headaches.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Yellow Fever Facts
  2. Infectious Disease
  3. Vocabulary
  4. Let’s Go Back to Basic
  5. Transmission
  6. Assess the Numbers
  7. Truth Shall Prevail
  8. Safety Measures
  9. What To Do?
  10. Medical View
  11. What If?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is yellow fever?

Yellow fever is a viral disease caused by the yellow fever virus, which is transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It primarily affects humans and certain primates and is endemic in tropical regions of Africa and South America.

What are the symptoms of yellow fever?

The symptoms of yellow fever can vary from mild to severe. After an incubation period of 3 to 6 days, symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and loss of appetite. In severe cases, individuals may develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), bleeding, organ failure, and potentially fatal complications.

How is yellow fever transmitted?

Yellow fever is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, particularly the Aedes and Haemagogus species. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected primates or humans with the virus in their bloodstream. The mosquitoes then transmit the virus to other individuals through subsequent bites.

Is there a vaccine for yellow fever?

Yes, a highly effective vaccine against yellow fever exists. The yellow fever vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, meaning it contains weakened forms of the virus. It provides long-lasting immunity and is recommended for individuals living in or traveling to areas where yellow fever is endemic or at risk of outbreaks.

How can yellow fever be prevented?

Preventing yellow fever primarily involves vaccination and mosquito bite prevention. Vaccination is the most crucial preventive measure, especially for individuals traveling to or residing in areas with yellow fever transmission. Additionally, taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites, such as using insect repellents, wearing protective clothing, and staying in air-conditioned or screened-in areas, can significantly reduce the risk of contracting yellow fever.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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