JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS UPDATE Ciwec Clinic Health News
DEFINITION : The Japanese Encephalitis is transmitted by a Culex mosquitoe that breed in flowed rice fields and feed on infected pigs, wild birds, bats, snakes and frogs. The arbovirus is inherent in rural nature.
Even if when bitten one doesn't become sick each time, those with symptoms will by :
- 1/3 recover
-1/3 die
- 1/3 "recover " with severe brain damage.
SYMPTOMS : most infected people will develop mild symtoms or no symptoms at all. those who become sigk will have a flu-like illness with fever, body-ache, tiredness, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Agittion and confusion may also occur in the early stage. The illness can progress to a serious invection of the brain (encephalitis) and can be fatal in 30 % of cases. The survivor may have serious brain damage as paralysis for 30 % of them. Symptoms usually appear within 6 to 8 days after the mosquitoe bite.
LOCATION : JE is endemic in southern areas of Nepal boarding India like Terai, also in Banke, Karchampur, and Kailaili.
It has been recently established that the virus is now present in the Kathmandu Valley. More generally speaking, this disease is found and only exists in Asia (Japan, China, Korea, Nepal) and parts of Australia.
TRAVELLERS : at lower risk than resident people, they might be at risk when staying for over one month in endemic areas, specially during August, September and October, in post-monsoon period. Cases among travellers are yet very rare, but still it is relevant to know a few about Japanese encephalitis for its diagnose is not often evocated and rural areas travellers more numerous.
VACCINE : An immunization program towards children is st in Nepal, which reduces its incidence.The chinese live formula J.E Vaccine is well known for years now.
The VERO-cell J.E vaccine also does exist.
The SA-!4-14-2 has been inoculated to an amount of more than 200 million people without serious side effects to be noticd like encephalitis or convulsion. A single Shot may provide protection for up to 5 years, with a booster every 5 years afterwards.
To children 2 shots might be necessary, one year apart, from the ge of 9 months on.
PREVENTION : as for malaria. for being vected by a mosquitoe, the best is to avoid being bitten using Mosquitoe-net at night, 30%DEET repellent spray at daytime, covering exposed areas of the body, air-conditioned rooms.
TREATMENT : immediate hosiptalization and medical management required, if not ressucitation.
According to : CiWEC CLINIC, Travel Medicine Center, Lainchour, Kathmandu, Nepal. and Directors of Health Promotion and Education.