Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is a viral brain infection spread by the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. It is common in rural South East Asia, Pacific Islands and Indian subcontinent but rare for travellers. The virus is usually found in pigs & birds and cannot be transmitted directly from person to person. There is no specific cure for Japanese Encephalitis.

Prevention

The best way to prevent Japanese encephalitis is to be vaccinated against the infection before travelling. Even if vaccinated still take precautions to reduce the chance of being bitten by mosquitos by:

Cover exposed skin earing long sleeved shirts, trousers & socks
Using a good insect repellent
Use a mosquito net which is big enough to cover you without leaving any gaps
Stay indoors after sunset as the mosquitos are most active around dusk & evening

Symptoms

Most people infected with Japanese encephalitis don’t experience symptoms or mild short-lived flu like symptoms but in severe cases may develop severe symptoms as the virus spreads to the brain.

Symptoms can include:

Fever
Tiredness
Headache
Confusion
Muscle weakness
Uncontrollable tremors
Confusion and agitation
Encephalitis itself (inflammation of the brain) which can lead to brain damage even be fatal