Yellow fever

Yellow fever (also called yellow jack, black vomit or sometimes American Plague) is an acute viral disease. It is still an important cause of hemorrhagic illness in several African and South American countries despite existence of an effective vaccine. In the past it was a source of several devastating epidemics. As of 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that yellow fever causes 200,000 illnesses and 30,000 deaths every year in unvaccinated populations.

History

The Yellow Fever has had several important roles in the history of the Americas and the Caribbean.

Related Topics:
Americas - Caribbean

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In the early 19th Century an army of 40,000 sent by First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte of France to Haiti to suppress the Haitian Revolution was wiped out by an epidemic of Yellow Fever (including the expedition's commander and Bonaparte's brother-in-law, Charles Leclerc). Some historians believe Haiti was to be a staging point for an invasion of the United States through Louisiana (then still under French control).

Related Topics:
19th Century - Napoleon Bonaparte - France - Haiti - Haitian Revolution - Charles Leclerc - United States - Louisiana

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A ship carrying persons infected with the virus arrived in Hampton Roads in June, 1855. The disease spread quickly through the community, eventually killing over 3,000 people, 1 of 3 residents of Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia. The Howard Association, a benevolent organization, was formed to help coordinate assistance in the form of funds, supplies, and medical professionals and volunteers which poured in from many other areas, particularly the Atlantic and Gulf Coast areas of the United States.

Related Topics:
Hampton Roads - Portsmouth - Norfolk, Virginia - Howard Association - Atlantic - Gulf Coast - United States

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In addition the first failed attempts to build the Panama Canal (by a French company) were thwarted in part due to the huge number of deaths amongst workers caused by the Yellow Fever. The vaccination for the fever was first formulated during the second attempt to build the canal.

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Walter Reed, M.D., (1851-1902) was an American Army surgeon who led the team which proved the theory first set forth in 1881 by the Cuban doctor and scientist Dr. Carlos Finlay that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes rather than direct contact. The risky but fruitful research work was done with human volunteers, including some of the medical personnel who had themselves infected.

Related Topics:
Walter Reed - American Army - 1881 - Carlos Finlay - Yellow fever - Mosquito

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Photograph from the Agricultural Research Service.

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