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Japanese encephalitis

About the virus

The Japanese encephalitis virus is a leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia, with 30-50,000 cases reported annually. One person in 200 infected develops a severe neuroinvasive illness. The case fatality rate in patients with severe disease is 20- 30%. Different kinds of vaccines are available.

Read facts for health professionals

Facts

The Japanese encephalitis virus is present in Asia, from Japan to India and Pakistan, and outbreaks are erratic phenomena. It is a leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia, with 30-50,000 cases reported annually.

Prevention and control

Different kinds of vaccines (inactivated, attenuated and chimeric) are available and used in several Asiatic countries. In Europe an inactivated vaccine is currently available. Another way of prevention is avoiding mosquito bites.

Related diseases

2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic

Disease / public health area

Chikungunya virus disease

Disease / public health area

Cholera

Disease networks

Emerging Viral Diseases-Expert Laboratory Network (EVD-LabNet)

European network for sharing data on the geographic distribution of arthropod vectors, transmitting human and animal disease agents (VectorNet)

Peer-reviewed publications

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Enhancing Preparedness for Arbovirus Infections with a One Health Approach: The Development and Implementation of Multisectoral Risk Assessment Exercises

Apr 2020

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Increased risk for autochthonous vector-borne infections transmitted by aedes albopictus in continental europe

Jun 2018