What should you know about influenza yellow fever?

Influenza commonly affects the respiratory system and may cause fever, cough, headache, chills, fatigue and a general feeling of illness. Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne infection associated with fever and can progress to serious liver-related illness, bleeding or jaundice. The names should not be used interchangeably, and symptoms alone cannot confirm either diagnosis.

Travel history matters for yellow fever. Tell a clinician about recent or planned travel to areas where transmission occurs, mosquito exposure and any vaccination record. A person can feel unwell from influenza without having yellow fever, while yellow fever requires a different risk assessment and prevention plan.

For flu-like symptoms, rest, drink fluids and limit close contact while unwell. Arrange medical advice if symptoms are severe, prolonged or occur in someone vulnerable. Before travel, ask a travel-health clinician whether yellow fever vaccination is recommended or required for your itinerary, and discuss mosquito-bite prevention such as covered clothing and an appropriate repellent. Do not wait until travel day to review vaccine suitability.

Seek urgent care for trouble breathing, confusion, collapse, severe dehydration, unusual bleeding, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or severe abdominal pain. After travel to a risk area, fever or sudden illness should be reported promptly, even if symptoms initially resemble influenza. Tell the service where and when you travelled so they can assess mosquito-borne infections and other causes safely.

Ask how your symptoms fit influenza versus a travel-related infection, whether testing is needed, which destinations carry yellow fever risk, whether vaccination suits your health history, and how to prevent mosquito bites.