Yellow fever areas in the world: travel guidance

Yellow fever is a viral illness spread by infected mosquitoes. Risk can differ between countries and even between regions within a country. A city visit, a rural stay, a forest excursion, and transit through another country can lead to different travel-health advice. Some destinations also ask travellers to show yellow fever vaccination documentation because of their route, not because yellow fever is present at the final stop.

Check the health requirements for every place on your itinerary, including stopovers. Arrange a travel-health appointment early enough to discuss vaccination suitability, previous vaccine records, pregnancy, immune conditions, and medicines that affect immunity. Use mosquito-bite prevention throughout the trip: choose covering clothing, use a suitable repellent, and follow accommodation guidance on keeping mosquitoes out. Keep any required travel documents with your passport rather than in checked luggage.

Seek urgent medical assessment for fever after travel to an area where mosquito-borne infections occur, particularly if it comes with severe headache, repeated vomiting, marked weakness, yellowing of the eyes or skin, unusual bleeding, or confusion. Tell the clinician where you travelled, when you returned, activities such as forest visits, and any vaccinations you received. Fever after travel can have several causes and needs individual assessment.

Ask whether each country and transit point changes your vaccination or certificate requirements, whether your health history affects vaccine suitability, and which mosquito precautions fit your activities. Bring a written itinerary and any previous vaccination documents.