OldRoyal

Okay, to be fair … they didn't actually give me Yellow Fever (that I know of … as of this writing), but they tried:

My flight coming into Atlanta was delayed, resulting in me missing my ATL-JNB nonstop. The “best” alternative Delta.com found for me was going ATL-LOS (Lagos, Nigeria – I had to look that one up) on Delta, then a seven hour layover in Lagos, followed by an overnight flight on SAA from LOS-JNB. Doing so got me into JNB shortly after 5 am the morning following my intended arrival, about 13 hours late. Seeing that the other alternatives (through CDG or taking the DL nonstop the following day) would have gotten me in even later, I hit the accept button and took the LOS flight.

What Delta didn't tell me – and I didn't find out until after arrival in Johannesburg two days later – is that Nigeria is considered a high-risk country for Yellow Fever, and that South Africa will only accept someone arriving from Nigeria if they can produce evidence of vaccination for Yellow Fever. No exceptions, even for transit passengers.

After a lengthy lecture by the South African immigration authorities, I was able to convince them that there weren't any open pools of standing water, at least that I could see, in the transit lounge at LOS. A kindly immigration officer finally agreed to admit me but only after informing me that SA government policy would have typically had me quarantined for six days or refused admission altogether.

I would think that, before routinely rerouting passengers through a Yellow Fever country, Delta would check out such health-related rules.

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On the positive side … seriously … I have nothing but high praise for Delta personnel in Lagos as well as the Nigerian immigration people who literally escorted me throughout the day during my transit experience at LOS (I had to follow, as they were holding my passport!) After reading all the horror stories here and elsewhere on the web about the airport at Lagos, I've got to say that my experience there was nothing but positive. I am also grateful to the South African immigration authorities, who were compassionate enough to understand my situation and grant me, under these unusual circumstances, a wavier to their inoculation requirement.

Quite the adventure.

HongKonger

I've also had yellow fever on occasion...

But seriously, IT that can't retain seat assignments probably isn't on the lookout for vaccination conflicts.

DLFan2

Glad it worked out. Now you know what can happen.

A yellow fever shot is good for 10 years, doesn't hurt, and doesn't cost much--may be free, depending. Good idea to get it "just in case" your future includes planned or unplanned travel to the tropics.

WWGuy

Apparently exceptions are allowed.

DLATL777

Business or Econ?, out of curiosity.

udontknowme

I sure hope you aren't a doctor, as I'd rather have you badly practicing medicine without a license than badly practicing with a license.

In any case, the yellow fever vaccine is not innocuous, has a case-fatality rate far above most routine inoculations, and is not recommended for those over 60 years old or with any immune compromise.

The CDC has a nice little publication you can review, or you could ASK YOUR PHYSICIAN.

DLFan2

3% of people who get yellow fever die. There is no cure.

The death rate from the immunization is around .00024% and most of these people have a defect in their immune system,


I think I'll take my chances with the shot (and already have).

DaddyRabbit

Did Nigeria a few years age and I am never going back. Never!!!

Sabai

The horror show that is LOS starts once you get through Immigration and Customs and enter Nigeria proper. The scrum that awaits beyond can be overwhelming for the uninitiated, including those who consider themselves seasoned, if not hardended, travelers.

You experienced "LOS-lite." Glad it worked out for you.

spamkiller

I have to go to Nigeria. A person with my same surname died, leaving a $75M estate, and I will go to collect 70% of it.

bk42

For a $100 fee, right?

CarmenOM

OP, you should be aware that there are quite a few countries around the world that require you to have had a yellow fever immunization if you have been in a country that is high-risk for yellow fever. If you are doing more international travel in the immediate future you may want to check into whether those countries will have the same restrictions as South Africa and bar your entry based on the Nigeria stamps in your passport.

Thomas Hudson

Dude... Seriously... You need to think things through a bit better in the future when you make on the fly connection changes overseas... Say it out loud, so others can hear..." I am connecting via Lagos instead of staying in ATL another day and flying a non stop to SA"

You could have earned a spot in a "Bad Idea Jeans" commercial ...

DLFan2

Good advice in general, but the vaccination requirement is not based on whether you have EVER been in an area with yellow fever, but rather on whether you have been in such an area recently. For example, the South Africa requirement is based on whether you were in an area that has yellow fever within the six days preceeding entry to RSA.

HongKonger

Maybe the thinking was, "I'm only connecting within the airport, how bad could it be?"

But I certainly agree that going to Nigeria is a bad idea.