Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is transmitted to people through mosquito bites that also survive off the blood of pigs and wading birds. It is the most common vaccine preventable encephalitis in Asia. Encephalitis is an infection of the brain that often results in severe neurological illness, complications, and death. It is a serious infection. JE is common throughout all parts of Asia. The overall incident of JE among people from countries that do not have known JE infection is less than 1 in a million.

Though the risk is relatively low the infection is very serious. Mild forms may include headache, fever, vomiting. More serious case also have mental status changes, weakness, unsteady gait, problems with memory, speech, or thinking, and paralysis. Even more serious cases involve coma, seizures, tremors, and even death. For those who survive the road to recovery is long, often times months to year; and may still have long term neurological complications, including paralysis, loss of memory or cognitive abilities requiring individuals to be dependent on others and no longer be independent.

The good news is JE is preventable through taking insect precautions with DEET, Permetherin, mosquito netting, clothing, etc; and vaccine. The vaccine requires to injections at least 28 days apart and before you depart for full protection. The first infection provides approximately 35% protection, after the second injection individuals have over 97% protection. JE is recommended for travelers going to endemic parts of Asia for month than 1 month, and those traveling less than 1 month who will be traveling to rural areas, farms, areas of an outbreak, and those doing out door activities such as trekking and hiking.

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