Japanese Encephalitis Cases Rising in Nepal

The number of Japanese encephalitis cases is rising in Nepal, according to the Department of Health Services.

At least 103 infections have been confirmed, with 20 deaths reported, state-owned RSS news agency said, citing Dr Abhiyan Gautam, Chief of the Child Health and Immunization Service Section at the Family Welfare Division under the department.

Most of the infections were found in people who had not been vaccinated against the disease, Dr Gautam added.

Fatalities so far have been reported from Jhapa, Morang, Tehrathum, Bara, Sindhuli, Arghakhanchi, Pyuthan, Dang, Bardiya, Kailali, Rautahat, Nawalparasi East, Chitwan and Nawalparasi West.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus related to dengue, Zika, yellow fever and West Nile viruses. It is mainly transmitted by Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

“JEV is the main cause of viral encephalitis in many countries of Asia with an estimated 100,000 clinical cases every year,” says the WHO on its official website. “Although symptomatic Japanese encephalitis (JE) is rare, the case-fatality rate among those with encephalitis can be as high as 30%. Permanent neurologic, cognitive and behavioural sequelae occur in 30–50% of those with encephalitis.”

Most cases occur in children below 15 years of age.

Adds WHO: “Twenty-four countries in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions have endemic JEV transmission, exposing more than 3 billion people to risks of infection. There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving severe clinical signs and supporting the patient to overcome the infection. Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent JE. WHO recommends that JE vaccination be integrated into national immunization schedules in all areas where JE disease is recognized as a public health issue.”

(With inputs from RSS)