Is climate change responsible for the WORST yellow fever outbreak on record? 157 CONFIRMED DEATHS - How can you protect yourself?

The yellow fever breakout in Brazil has since led to at least 1,000 new cases.

The Brazilian Ministry of Health reported an ongoing yellow fever outbreak beginning in December 2016. Since then, the disease has been spreading across the country.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Thousands line up in hospitals for yellow fever vaccines as the Ministry of Health revealed nearly 2,000 cases were under investigation as of February 6.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported yellow fever is caused by a virus that can be spread by mosquito bites.

Though the illness is quite old, tropical areas such as South America and Africa tend to see outbreaks. Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Severe headache
• Back pain
• Achy body
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Weakness

Many recover after quickly but some develop higher fevers, jaundice - which gives the skin a yellow tint and makes the whites of eyes yellow - can lead to bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract, and eventually shocks the organs, which go into failure.

The CDC reported the fatality rate is about 20-50 percent.

There is no cure but those who are diagnosed can have their symptoms treated in hospitals through rest, fluids, pain medication and fever-reducing medications.

In Brazil, the majority of those who were diagnosed with yellow fever were "economically active males" who are more frequently exposed to mosquito-dense areas.

Of the nearly 2,000 cases, 157 people have succumbed to the illness. Five states and 109 municipalities were affected by the outbreak, with Minas Gerais being the most affected with 873 reported cases. Of these cases, 158 are confirmed, 55 have been discarded and 660 remain under investigation.

Bahia, Espirito Santo, SĂŁo Paulo and Tocantins have also reported suspected and confirmed cases.

The outbreak is the worst since 1980, at the inception of yellow fever statistics recording. It is also more severe than the 2000 outbreak, which saw only 40 fatalities.

Pedro Vasconcelos, director of the Evandro Chagas Institute in Para and an expert on arboviruses, explained: "The outbreak in Minas is controlled due to the quick qork on extensive vaccination. What I'm worried about are other states like Bahia,especially, that are outside the area where the virus is endemic, where vaccination is not recommended - so in these states the vaccine coverage is very low."

Vasconcelos described how the virus can also be spread through monkeys and in more rural areas the first sign of disease is the discovery of dead primates.

Marcia Chame, a biologist who heads the Centre for Information on Wild Health in Rio at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - Brazil's premiere public health institute - believes the latest outbreak is the fault of climate change.

"The biological world is dynamic and adapts to new conditions," she stated. "And what we see today is that animals are losing their habitats and adapting to the new conditions that humans have subjected them to. Viruses do this, too, and species are re-emerging."

Chame blames deforestation, which leaves monkeys weaker and trapped in smaller environments, which makes them more likely to interact with humans and exchange a variety of illnesses.

Changes in temperature and rain patterns also encourage a growth in the mosquito population, which is why Zika began to spread so rapidly.

There is no evidence to prove Chame's theory but it is certainly possible climate change, combined with unidentified elements, can be responsible. Regardless, the outbreak has killed endangered primates and is continuing to kill humans as well.

If you plan on traveling to Brazil, please prepare according to CDC recommendations:

• Receive the yellow fever vaccine at least 10 days before your trip
• Bring the signed and stamped International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (sometimes called the "yellow card") on your trip
• For most travelers, one vaccine lasts a lifetime. Consult a medical provider to ensure additional doses are not required.

Don't forget to prevent mosquito bites:

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants
• Use an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), IR3535, or 2-undecanone (methyl nonyl ketone). Always use as directed.
• If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second
• • Pregnant and breastfeeding women can use all EPA-registered insect repellents, according to the product label
  • Most repellents, including DEET, can be used on children older than 2 months
  • Follow package direction when applying repellent on children. Avoid applying repellent to children's hands, eyes, or mouth
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents), which can be purchased pre-treated or you can treat them yourself:
• • Treated clothing remains protective after multiple washings. See product information to find out how long the protection will last.
  • If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions carefully.
  • Do not use permethrin directly on skin
• Stay and sleep in screened or air conditioned rooms
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

---

The California Network is the Next Wave in delivery of information and entertainment on pop culture, social trends, lifestyle, entertainment, news, politics and economics. We are hyper-focused on one audience, YOU, the connected generation. JOIN US AS WE REDEFINE AND REVOLUTIONIZE THE EVER-CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE.