About half of the patients in this toxic phase die within 10 to 14 days. Persons recovering from yellow fever have lifelong immunity against reinfection. An estimated 200,000 yellow fever cases with 30,000 deaths occur each year, almost all in sub-Saharan Africa where over 460 million people in 33 countries are at risk of infection. There is no specific treatment for yellow fever. Patients should drink plenty of fluids to compensate for dehydration.
Vaccination is the single most important measure for preventing yellow fever.
Yellow Fever Vaccine Yellow fever vaccine is a live, attenuated virus vaccine which has been in use since the 1930's. The vaccine is safe and highly effective, and has few side effects. Serious side effects resulting from vaccination are extremely rare. Adults and children over nine months of age can be vaccinated against yellow fever. A single dose of vaccine confers immunity within one week in 95 percent of people vaccinated.