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Japanese Encephalitis
Find most of the information you need in these resources
Always refer to your local signed PGD's in practice, and remember the Green Book takes priority over the SPmC - and sometimes WHO takes priority over the Green Book! They don't always say the same!
Keeping up to date: Things to know in practice currently:
FEB 2024 Green book chapter update, check out the helpful decision-making tool for establishing risk.
NOV 2023 interesting article regarding cases in Australia - put the kettle on and get ready for rains, pigs and water birds galore.
Bits and bobs to casually drop into conversation
Did you know....
The disease occurs in large parts of Asia and the Western Pacific, usually in rural areas where rice growing and pig farming are common.
Most JE infections do not cause symptoms. 1 in 250 infections results in severe infection. If symptoms are severe and require hospitalisation, death rates are high and neurological complications are common. Horrible disease when it wants to be.
Ever wondered about the name? JE was first spotted in Japan in the late 1800s, but the first major outbreak (involving 6,000 cases) was described in 1924
It is estimated that 68,000 clinical cases of JE occur every year. In endemic countries JE is primarily a disease of children
The incidence of JE in travellers is estimated to be less than one case per one million travellers. However, cases of JE have been reported in travellers. Between 1973 and 2020, 88 confirmed cases of JE were reported in travellers.
There have been 8 documented cases of JE in UK travellers. The 3 cases diagnosed in 2014/2015 resulted in severe neurological illnesses and long-term sequelae. None of these travellers had received the JE vaccine, despite having indications for it. Take a look at this patient video. -She comments on her travel consultation advice...
