Symptoms Linked To Yellow Fever

Liver And Kidney Failure

While jaundice itself isn't the most serious symptom one with yellow fever can develop, it is usually the precursor to complete liver and kidney failure. This is because the yellow fever virus implants its RNA into the body's host cells, usually those in the liver and kidney, and hijacks the enzymes and ribosomes involved in the normal production of cell RNA, causing them to replicate the virus RNA instead. In doing this, the cell no longer functions as normal, and simply replicates the virus until it bursts, releasing the virus and allowing it to spread to other healthy host cells. Normally, the immune response causes macrophages to attack and consume these infected cells along with the viruses in order to mitigate damage to the body, though a weakened immune system may not be strong enough to properly combat the virus, leading to a further increase in symptom severity.