Yellow Fever

In 1865 fifteen Swansea residents died of Yellow Fever, the only time the disease has occurred in Britain.

Typical symptoms of yellow fever include:

• headache
• high temperature
• nausea and vomiting
• jaundice – yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
• bleeding

Yellow fever is a virus known as a flavivirus. It is transmitted through mosquito bites. Clearly there are not so many mosquito in Swansea but,  it can be spread from one host to another, usually between monkeys, or from monkeys to humans and of course from person to person.

Mmm. interesting because Yellow fever can't be spread by close contact between two people like a cold. However, there is more than enough contact in ordinary situations to allow it to transfer. Luckily the outbreak was confined to Swansea.