Vaccination and Therapeutics: Responding to the Changing Epidemiology of Yellow Fever

Abstract

Purpose of Review At the turn of the nineteenth century, yellow fever (YF) was considered the most dangerous infectious disease with high case fatality. Subsequent, mass vaccination campaigns coupled with widespread elimination of the YF mosquito vector significantly decreased YF cases and reduced outbreaks to the tropical and subtropical forested regions of Africa and South America. Recent Findings However, recent (2016) large outbreaks in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and SouthEastern Brazil, where previously had been demarcated as low-risk regions, have highlighted the possibility of a rapidly changing epidemiology and the potential re-emergence of yellow fever virus (YFV). Furthermore, the first-ever importation of YFV into Asia has highlighted the potential fear of YFV emerging as a global threat. Summary In this review, we describe the changing epidemiology of YF outbreaks and highlight the use of public health policies, therapeutics, and vaccination as tools to help eliminate future YFV outbreaks.

Potential for Protein Kinase Pharmacological Regulation in Flaviviridae Infections

“…YFV is currently endemic in over 40 countries in Africa and the Americas. Individuals infected with YFV can present with a wide spectrum of symptoms, ranging from asymptomatic to severe illness with bleeding, jaundice, and death, and, despite vaccination campaigns, over 30,000 deaths are reported each year [ 43 ].…”

The Incidence and Mortality of Yellow Fever in Africa – A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…In the context of an emergency preparedness effort, this initiative has created an opportunity for global stock of yellow fever vaccines. 13,51 The 17D yellow fever vaccine is effective, safe, affordable, readily available, and can prevent the disease with just a single dose being su cient enough to confer sustained immunity and lifelong protection.…”

“…The disease spread rapidly from Luanda to other urban communities in Angola and crossed into the neighbouring country of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 12,13 This observation empathizes the fact that yellow fever is a neglected tropical disease which needs more public health strategies to contain it coupled with more studies to be conducted in Africa to generate in-depth evidence for effective interventions.…”

Which Plagues are Coming Next?

“…Yellow fever (YF), one of the deadliest infectious diseases less than a century ago [11], was historically a neglected infectious disease unit the 1902 creation of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and International Sanitary Bureau of the American Republics [12]. Yellow fever is caused by the etiological agent yellow fever virus (YFV), belongs to the flavivirus genus and, is a part of the arboviruses group (i.e., a commonly used, yet unofficial, name for viruses transmitted by arthropods).…”

“…Yellow fever is caused by the etiological agent yellow fever virus (YFV), belongs to the flavivirus genus and, is a part of the arboviruses group (i.e., a commonly used, yet unofficial, name for viruses transmitted by arthropods). [11]. YFV circulates between humans, non-human primates, and several species of mosquito vectors (Aedes, Haemagogus, Saberges).…”