Yellow Fever South Africa Public Health Analysis

I. Define the problem (nature, extent, significance, etc.).

II. Describe the agent.

a. The agent is yellow fever and the conditions that cause the spread of the disease. These agents are environmental conditions, lack of healthcare infrastructure, and improper mitigation efforts

III. Describe the condition (briefly).

a. Yellow fever is hemorrhagic disease that causes jaundice. Here the characteristics are yellow skin and yellow eyes. In addition, the conditions of the disease can vary by individual. Initially, the conditions are headache, fever, muscle pain, nausea and appetite. If left untreated these conditions can be more severe in roughly 7 days. These symptoms included higher fever, liver failure, kidney failure, internal and external bleeding. During this phase nearly 50% of individuals die. The condition is primary transferred by infected mosquitos.

IV. Examine the above sources for data on morbidity and mortality in the selected health problem.

a. The mortality rate of most individuals that go untreated is 50%. Is treated with 1 to 5 days the mortality rate significantly declines to roughly 20%.

V. Summarize these data on the distribution of the selected health problem according to the following factors using tables, graphs, or other illustrations whenever possible:

a. Most individuals with Yellow Fever vary in age. As the condition is contracted by mosquitoes the age distribution of yellow fever victims is primarily associated with those exposed to mosquitos. These individual’s tend to be working class between the ages of 25-64.

a. According to the World Health Organization, Yellow fever originated in Africa and was transferred to the rest of the world during the slave trade.

b. The first widespread epidemic occurred in 1648 within the Yucatan.

c. The virus would later spread throughout the Caribbean, south American and other tropical regions.

a. Marital status has no bearing on the spread of yellow fever.

a. Africans, Brazilians, Peruvians, and Argentinians are the most likely ethnic groups to contract the virus.

a. The virus typically survives in lush tropical environments.

b. A large source of water is required for the spread of the virus. This is indicated through the data as many of the yellow fever hot spots are located within coastal areas.

c. The environment typically has low infrastructure related to healthcare care and proper treatment. In this environment, the symptoms must be easily recognized and then treated promptly for survival rates to increase.

a. The virus is primary located on the west African coasts, the Caribbean and South America

b. Forty-seven countries in Africa (34) and Central and South America (13) are either endemic for, or have regions that are endemic for, yellow fever. Data has shown that in 2021, there were between 84, 000 to 170, 000 severe cases resulting in nearly 60,000 deaths.

c. South Africa contributes nearly 90% of the yellow fever deaths globally.

1. Income levels for highly impacted areas are lowers than those of properly treated areas. This contributes to the rapid spread of the virus as many low-income areas do not have the proper healthcare infrastructure to support an outbreak.

1. Housing, is less of a factor as it relates to yellow fever and its subsequent spread. Here, the outdoor tropical environment is a much more important factor to the spread of the virus.

a. Occupation is a major factor towards the transmission and spread of the virus. Here, outdoor occupations, within tropical environments, located near water are very susceptible to the virus.

a. Educational levels do not have a bearing on the virus and its ability to spread.

The secular variation of the virus is trending downward due in part to advancements technology, treatment and mitigation efforts

The cyclical variation and seasonal variation of the virus has significantly declined due to the overall prevalence of the COVID-19 variant. Here, being forced to stay indoors have lowered the propensity of receiving the virus. Likewise, the use of vaccinations has allowed consumers to become much more comfortable with vaccinations.

The cyclical variation and seasonal variation of the virus has significantly declined due to the overall prevalence of the COVID-19 variant. Here, being forced to stay indoors have lowered the propensity of receiving the virus. Likewise, the use of vaccinations has allowed consumers to become much more comfortable with vaccinations.

No epidemic has occurred recently in South Africa due in part to strong mitigation, treatment and prevention efforts.

D. Any additional characteristic that contributes to an epidemiologic description of the disease

1. Vaccination rates is a factor that can help lower the prevalence of yellow fever is South Africa. Here, this additional characteristic helps to stop the spread of the virus in highly impacted areas. It also provides proper treatment mechanisms in the event that an epidemic arises.

VI. Summarize any current hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the observed distribution.

a. In summary, the current hypotheses that has been proposed to explain the distribution of yellow fever is South Africa is related to vaccinations and treatment availability. Here, the current hypothesis is that proper preventative measures such as information sharing and vaccinations can significantly reduce the distribution of the virus

VII. List the principal gaps in knowledge about the distribution of the health problem.

C. How improvement of infrastructure and availability can help mitigate or even eradicate the virus

VIII. Suggest areas for further epidemiologic research.

a. How can the onset of another pandemic such as COVID-19 impact the yellow fever infection rates in South Africa?