HPA issues travel advisory over spread of yellow fever

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has advised Maldivians travelling to countries with yellow fever outbreaks to take preventive measures as cities in Brazil declare state-of-emergency over the outbreak.

World Health organization (WHO) has listed 42 risk-high countries; declaring South American and African countries as the most high-risk.

HPA issued an advisory this Monday, in which it instructed Maldivians traveling to any of the 42 listed countries to take the vaccine 10 days prior to departure, and cancel trips to any of the listed countries unless absolutely necessary.

HPA instructs travelers to monitor for the following symptoms within 6 days after returning back from a trip to any of the countries:

• High fever

• Eyes and skin turning yellow

• Body ache

• Loss of appetite

• Dizziness, nausea

• Headache

The agency instructs anyone with the symptoms to take immediate measures against mosquito bites, take medical treatment, and share travel information with HPA.

The list of 42 countries with yellow fever cases can be viewed from the WHO website. It’s also available from International Border Health – which can be contacted at 7954333.

Yellow fever is an acute viral disease spread through mosquito bites.