Wednesday, February 20, 2008

By The Hair Of My Chinny Chin Chin

My uncle Herman has been traveling in Utah for the past two weeks and got back into town yesterday. We've been waiting for him, so we can all go get our Yellow Fever Vaccinations together.

Yesterday afternoon, I casually called the Travel doctor that is 2 minutes from me to get us scheduled. I mean, how many people travel to South America in the Winter? Apparently, a lot. They're booked for Yellow Fever Vaccines for the next two weeks.

She goes on to tell me that it is now considered a RARE vaccine and they wait until they have 5 people to share a 5-dose vial.

I leave in 14 days. I need to have the vaccine in my system for 10 days for it to be effective.

I called another doctor at Vanderbilt University. They have none. Zero.

Fuckity.

They give me another doctor to call that's at Fisk University. He's the only other one in town. I call. Get cut off. Call back. Put on hold. Get returned to the operator. Put on hold some more. Finally, the original operator returns.

They can get us in next Monday. Exactly 10 days before we arrive in Bolivia where we must have a Yellow Fever Vaccination Record to enter the country.

Whew.

Since I'll be on the brink of being immune, I looked up Yellow Fever on The World Health Orgnization's website. This is the actual picture from their site. Am I going blind? Or is this the crappiest pic on the planet for YF transmission patterns?


What is Yellow Fever, you wonder? Here's how the WHO describes it:

Yellow fever (YF) is a viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted by infected mosquitoes.

Yellow fever can be recognized from historic texts stretching back 400 years. Infection causes a wide spectrum of disease, from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. The "yellow" in the name is explained by the jaundice that affects some patients, causing yellow eyes and yellow skin.


Oh, and guess where else we may be going? Paraguay, of course!

NEW information from WHO:

A small outbreak of yellow fever occurred in Paraguay in early 2008. This is the first outbreak since 1974. All the confirmed cases reported by the national health auntorities come from a rural area of San Pedro Department in central east Paraguay. WHO now recommends yellow fever vaccination for all travellers to affected areas in Paraguay.

26 comments:

Dana said...

Yellow Fever Smeever! You'll be fine ... well you will now that you are getting vaccinated!

Unknown said...

Are you trying to scare yourself or us????
Get the vaccine and be careful.

Real Live Lesbian said...

Dana: Thanks Dr. Dana!

Mama: Both. Why? :) Yes ma'am!

Jay said...

That is definitely cutting it close. Thank goodness you found somebody who could do it.

Real Live Lesbian said...

Jay: I was getting a tad worried!

KellyKline said...

Yee-UCK! I don't want you to go gettin' yellow fever ... and I DEFINITELY don't want you to get it, come home, get bit by one of those big ol' humdinger skeeters from the lake, and then ME get bit and get unexplained yellow fever!

So go get your little shottie-poo and then enjoy the heck outta yourself!

BTW - do you have a myspace? Email me if ya do. Also, you should come play poker at the Lipstick next Wednesday night!

Real Live Lesbian said...

Kelly: Yes, I do have a myspace...but I rarely check it. My address is gwentheeviltwin.

And hey, I've tried emailing you, but it don't work right when I do. Email me, then I can email YOU!

Poker, huh? Mayyybeeee.

Biscuit said...

Sounds like fun, that yellow fever!

Mike said...

Did I read that it comes from monkeys?

Hard to tell with the blurry picture.

Anything that comes from monkeys can't be so bad. Well, except aids. And maybe flung poo.

Jen said...

Um. THAT sounds fun.

Tell Paraguay they can keep their Yellow Fever to themselves.

I'm just sayin'.

Anonymous said...

Hey!!!! Can I stow-a-way??? ;)

MrRyanO said...

I give you credit as I will never travel willingly to a country (other than Canada) where I need a vaccine. Canada has good beer so it all balances out.

Raven said...

Have fun with those shots. I had to get those before I went to the Phillipines in 1989. What a PITA! Of course, right when I was getting ready to leave, there was the coup so I got stationed in Nebraska instead. They don't get many outbreaks of Yellow Fever there.

Fortune Cookies said...

Really? That's the best the W.H.O. can do?? Really? Wow. I'm glad you'll be at least marginally immune. I'm still jealous; You're gonna have soooo much fun!!

Jeff B said...

Sure...you get to go where they have all the cool deseases.

buffalodick said...

Bring giant spider and snake venom kits, too.... :)

The Mistress of the Dark said...

I'd get the vaccine, one never knows if Yellow Fever has become Super Yellow Fever or not.

Schmoop said...

Catch the fever...It will give you another exciting story to tell. Cheers!!

Coffeypot said...

If you do get YF, wear a lot of black. That looks good with yellow.

Diva said...

I hate needles, but after reading that, I'd get stuck as many times as needed to keep from the cooties.

I've left something for you on my page.

Anonymous said...

Eeeeek!

I'd be afraid to go.I am deathly afraid of any and all diseases.

Seraphine said...

Truthfully, I don't look good in yellow. It really washes my skin color out.
On the other hand, black plague is something I could bite my teeth into.

Doc said...

Reason # 2359645 that I never want to leave the country = Yellow Fever

Leighann said...

I was pretty much going to say what Doc said!

Get out of my head Doc!

elizabeth said...

worse than germy bathrooms for sure. Thanks - new phobia starting.

Odat said...

Here's hoping nothing turns yellow.......Peace