Japanese Encephalitis
What?
Japanese Encephalitis is a Flaviviridae infection (like Yellow Fever and Dengue).
How it is caught?
Japanese Encephalitis is spread from pigs and wading birds to humans by the Culex mosquito. This mosquito bites during the afternoon up until dusk.
What does it do?
Japanese Encephalitis causes swelling of the brain tissue. In most cases there are few or no symptoms. However, if symptomatic (headache, fever, convulsions), the disease can lead to death or long-term brain damage.
Can it be treated?
No.
Where is it?
Japanese Encephalitis is found across South East Asia. The risk to travellers is seasonal and most significant in rural locations, increasing in rainy seasons. Although common in locals, the risks to many travellers is very low (< 1:1,000,000). The risk increases the longer you spend in country, travelling in epidemics or seasonal increases and staying in rural locations.
How is it prevented?
Protect yourself against mosquitoes.
Vaccine: A course of two injections over 28 days. A rapid course can be provided on days 0 and 7