What is it?

Japanese Encephalitis is a viral brain infection which is spread via mosquito bites. The disease causes inflammation of the brain which can result in permanent brain damage and death.

Travel precautions

Our recommended vaccines for the most common travel destinations outside of Europe includes Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) vaccines. For travellers who are visiting the developing world on a regular basis or for prolonged periods of time, we would recommend considering hepatitis B vaccine. Cholera is worth considering for travellers visiting rural areas of developing countries. The vaccine against cholera (Dukoral) also reduces the risk of the most common form of traveller’s diarrhoea caused by E coli. Dukoral is an oral vaccine given in two doses one week apart.

Japanese Encephalitis is transmitted by mosquito bites. The mosquitos that carry Japanese Encephalitis breed off birds and pigs and are therefore more commonly found near rice fields and agricultural farms. It is important to always be protected with a DEET based insect repellent to give extra precaution against mosquito based diseases.

Signs and symptoms

Most people infected with this disease have no symptoms or very mild flu like symptoms. In certain cases (1 in 250 people) the infection can spread to the brain leading to seizures, confusion and paralysis. There is no cure for Japanese Encephalitis and treatments involves helping the body fight off the infection by giving the infection person fluids and oxygen.