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Japanese encephalitis is a viral brain infection transmitted by mosquito bites. It belongs to the same family as dengue, yellow fever, and West Nile virus, and predominantly affects children, resulting in around 20,000 deaths annually. Japanese encephalitis is endemic across a large geographic area extending from the East and Western Pacific islands such as Japan and the Philippines to India and the western end of Pakistan, and from northern China up to the Tibet region to Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia.
Common destinations
Japanese encephalitis is a viral brain infection transmitted by mosquito bites. It belongs to the same family as dengue, yellow fever, and West Nile virus, and predominantly affects children, resulting in around 20,000 deaths annually. It is triggered by a flavivirus carried by Culex mosquitoes that breed in water pools and flooded rice fields, biting most often at night and at sunset. The virus cannot be transmitted directly from person to person.
Consider this vaccine if you are travelling to a region where Japanese encephalitis is endemic. Endemic areas span the East and Western Pacific islands such as Japan and the Philippines, extending to India and the western end of Pakistan, and from northern China up to the Tibet region through to Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia.
According to the World Health Organization, the Japanese encephalitis vaccine has a high efficacy rate of 99.3%. A single dose is highly effective at preventing the disease, even when given just days or weeks before potential exposure. It remains advisable to take additional precautions such as mosquito nets, insecticide, loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and socks, and air conditioning where available.
