What is Japanese encephalitis and what causes it?
Japanese encephalitis occurs throughout South East Asia and Japan, but has also reached northern Queensland in Australia.
It’s found in areas where pigs and wading birds live and in places where mosquitoes breed. Japanese Encephalitis is a serious illness causing inflammation of the brain. In bad cases it can lead to brain damage and death. A fortunate third of people who get the disease are asymptomatic, which means they don’t experience any symptoms at all. Another third suffer from long-term neurological deficits and the remaining third die.
There is no cure for Japanese Encephalitis and treatment is supportive, which means medical experts simply do everything they can to help you pull through unharmed.
Japanese Encephalitis signs and Symptoms
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Confusion and agitation
- Encephalitis itself, also called inflammation of the brain, which can lead to permanent brain damage or even death
When do I need protection against Japanese encephalitis?
Regular epidemics happen in South East Asia, China and India. The disease is most common in farmed regions and tends to be more widespread in the rainy season when mosquitoes are particularly active. The disease is more common in children than adults.
How to minimise the risk of catching Japanese encephalitis?
Immunisation is the best way to avoid this disease. But it isn’t 100% effective 100% of the time, so it’s important to steer clear of mosquitoes even if you’ve been immunised.
- Sleep in a screened room and keep the windows and / or shutters closed
- Use a mosquito net and make sure it’s large enough to cover you without leaving any gaps. Check for net damage every day and repair any holes
- Spray the bedroom with insecticide at dusk to kill any insects that have sneaked in during daylight
- If you sleep outdoors or in an unscreened room, use mosquito nets impregnated with a safe and effective insecticide like Permethrin
- Burn a mosquito coil while you sleep
- Because the insects carrying the disease are most active during the dusk and evening, stay indoors after sunset
- If you go out, cover every bit of exposed skin. Bear in mind mosquitoes are less attracted to pale colours and use insect repellent. Diethyltoluamide (also known as DEET) is safe and works well, but it’s best to check first because different repellents tend to work better in some areas than others
Vaccination information:
The course consists of two doses. The second dose needs to be given ideally 28 days after the first. You are protected from seven days after the second dose.
In special cases you can get a faster course where the first dose should be at least 2 weeks before you travel.
The vaccine protects you for 12 months, so you need a booster to remain protected after one year.
