A 32-year-old man from Zhejiang Province, who contracted yellow fever while in Angola, is the 1st imported case in China, according to a Xinhua report.
China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission (HFPC) says the patient first experienced stage one symptoms of the disease, including fever and chills, on March 8 in Luanda, capital of Angola in Africa.
He sought medical treatment after returning to China on March 10 and is in a relatively serious condition with weakened liver and kidney functions.
As of Mar. 9, available data has shown that there were 65 confirmed cases, 813 suspected cases, and 138 deaths of yellow fever in Angola. The epicenter of the epidemic continues to be the Viana Municipality, in Luanda.
In February, we reported that China was supporting the battle against yellow fever by giving Angola 500,000 U.S. dollars to buy yellow fever vaccines.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, yellow fever virus is found in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and Africa. The virus is transmitted to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Yellow fever is a very rare cause of illness in U.S. travelers. Illness ranges in severity from a self-limited febrile illness to severe liver disease with bleeding.
Yellow fever disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings, laboratory testing, and travel history, including the possibility of exposure to infected mosquitoes. There is no specific treatment for yellow fever; care is based on symptoms. Steps to prevent yellow fever virus infection include using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and getting vaccinated.
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