Japanese encephalitis
What is Japanese encephalitis?
Japanese encephalitis is a viral disease that is spread by a particular type of mosquito. The virus — a flavivirus — can affect both animals (pigs and birds) and humans. In humans, it can cause inflammation of your brain (encephalitis) and the membranes that cover it. Being bitten by an infected mosquito is the only way of catching this virus — it cannot be passed from person to person.
Where does Japanese encephalitis occur?
Japanese encephalitis is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. Most infections occur in China, Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. The mosquitoes that transmit this infection (Culex mosquitoes) generally breed in rural, agricultural areas, most commonly in flooded rice fields. There have been a few cases of Japanese encephalitis in the Torres Strait Islands, and the Cape York Peninsula in mainland Australia.
What are the symptoms?
Most people who are infected with the Japanese encephalitis virus have no ill effects or only mild symptoms, such as fever and headache. Symptoms usually appear 5–15 days after you are infected. About one in every 200 people who are infected has a severe illness. These people can experience high fever, headache, neck stiffness, seizures (fits), confusion, paralysis and coma.
About 30 per cent of the people who have the severe form of the disease will die, and up to half of those who survive will have long-lasting damage to their brain and nervous system. If you get Japanese encephalitis while you are pregnant you may have an increased risk of miscarriage.
Am I at risk of catching Japanese encephalitis?
If you are going to a country where Japanese encephalitis is prevalent, your risk of being infected varies, depending on the region you are planning to visit, the length of your stay, and the season.
Travellers who visit urban areas have very little risk of infection, while people staying in rural areas for an extended period (one month or more) have the greatest risk. If you are visiting rural areas, particularly areas where there are flooded rice fields, and plan to spend a lot of time outdoors (especially in the evening and night time), you also have an increased risk of being infected, even if your stay is only brief. Travelling during a transmission season (time of year when infections most often occur) also increases your risk of infection.
The risk of catching the Japanese encephalitis virus is the same for travellers of all ages, but older people may be at higher risk of having severe disease as a result of the infection.
Are there any available treatments?
Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment available that can cure Japanese encephalitis. People who experience the more severe form of the disease will need to be treated in hospital.
Is there a vaccine?
There is a vaccine against Japanese encephalitis. The vaccine is expensive and requires 3 sets of injections, but it is an effective way of preventing the infection in people travelling to affected areas.
Vaccination is not necessary for all people who plan to travel to Asia. You should be vaccinated if you plan to spend a month or more in an affected area during the transmission season, especially if you will be travelling to rural areas. Vaccination may also be necessary if you are spending a shorter amount of time in a rural area, but will be spending a lot of time outdoors. You will need a booster injection every 3 years to keep yourself protected against the virus. Check with your doctor or travel health clinic whether you should be vaccinated before travelling overseas, and remember that the vaccine is generally only available at travel clinics and some doctors' surgeries.
If you do need to be vaccinated, you should have the last dose at least 10 days before travelling, to ensure adequate immunity before travel, as well as access to medical services in case you have a delayed reaction to the vaccine. About 20 per cent of people have a mild reaction to the vaccine, with pain at the injection site and fever, headaches and muscle pains. Severe allergic reactions, which can occur within minutes or up to one week after vaccination, are rare.
How else can I protect myself against infection?
Even if you have been vaccinated, it’s still important to take precautions to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes while you are travelling. Remember to use mosquito repellent, wear protective clothing (loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants) and try to stay indoors during twilight and after dark. If your accommodation does not have insect screens or air conditioning, use a mosquito net as well as mosquito coils and aerosol insecticides as necessary.
Depending on where you are travelling, protecting yourself against mosquito bites can also help prevent you being infected with other diseases that are spread by mosquitoes, such as malaria and dengue fever.
Last Reviewed: 21 March 2007
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