Yellow fever (YF) is a mosquito-borne infection, distributed in west, central and east Africa and in South America. The disease can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms, from mild to fatal. In severe cases there may be spontaneous haemorrhage. Mortality of these clinical cases can be as high as 80%, on a par with Ebola, Marburg and other haemorrhagic viral infections.
This species is a known persistent biter of humans. It is suspected of having contributed to malaria transmission in the past and has been shown to be a competent vector of both tropical and Eurasian strains of malaria.
Remains widespread in Europe, mostly coastal but also found in freshwater habitats. Implicated as a key vector of malaria during the twentieth century.
Endemic to Japan, north-eastern China, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and parts of Russia, a vector for Japanese encephalitis virus in parts of Russia.