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Causative agent
Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus. The disease occurs mainly in the rural and agricultural areas of Asia and the Western Pacific Region.
Clinical features
Most infections occur without apparent symptoms or with mild symptoms such as fever and headache. More severe infection is characterised by rapid onset of headache, high fever, neck stiffness, impaired mental state, coma, tremors, convulsions (especially in children) and paralysis.
Mode of transmission
Japanese encephalitis virus is principally transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes. The principal type of mosquito that transmits the disease is called Culex tritaeniorhynchus. The mosquito breeds where there is abundant water such as rice paddies and become infected by feeding on pigs and wild birds infected with the Japanese encephalitis virus. The infected mosquito transmits the virus to humans and animals during biting. While Japanese encephalitis is principally mosquito-borne, a human case of Japanese encephalitis transmitted by blood transfusion was recorded in Hong Kong. In addition, overseas scientific literature showed that, based on nature of similar flaviviruses, organ transplant is also considered to be a potential mode of transmission.
Incubation period
Symptoms usually start at around 4 – 14 days after being infected.
Management
There is no specific treatment for this disease. Supportive therapy is the mainstay of treatment. The case-fatality rate can be as high as 30% among those with symptoms. Of those who survive, 20% – 30% suffer permanent intellectual, behavioural or neurological problems such as paralysis, recurrent seizures or inability to speak.
Prevention
To prevent contracting the disease, one should take general measures to prevent mosquito bites and avoid going to rural areas from dusk till dawn when the mosquitoes spreading this virus are most active. People planning to travel to areas in which Japanese encephalitis is endemic should take special note.
Vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis vaccination is safe and effective in preventing the disease. Vaccination for Japanese encephalitis is available in Hong Kong but it is generally not recommended for members of the general public. Vaccination is recommended for travellers who plan to stay one month or longer in endemic areas, particularly in rural areas; and for short-term (less than one month) travellers if they plan to have significant extensive outdoor or night-time exposure in rural areas during the transmission season of the disease. For further information on Japanese encephalitis vaccination and outbreak news in other countries, please visit the Hong Kong Travel Health Service website at https://www.travelhealth.gov.hk/eindex.html.
General measures on preventing mosquito-borne diseases
Help prevent mosquito proliferation
Pregnant women and children of 6 months or older can use DEET-containing insect repellent. For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, children aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a concentration of DEET up to 30%. For details about the use of insect repellents and the key points to be observed, please refer to 'Tips for using insect repellents'.
For more information about control and prevention of mosquito breeding, please visit the website of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) at http://www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/handbook_prev_mos_breeding.html