Japanese Encephalitis – SP Medifort Hospital

Japanese Encephalitis Treatment

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes and is a leading cause of vaccine‑preventable encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in parts of Asia and the Western Pacific. The virus that causes JE belongs to the flavivirus family, is related to dengue and West Nile viruses, and is maintained in a cycle between mosquitoes and animals like pigs and birds. Humans become infected through the bite of an infected mosquito, but human‑to‑human spread does not occur.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of Japanese encephalitis?

The main symptoms of Japanese encephalitis (JE) include:

Nausea and vomiting.
Fever.
Stiff neck.
Headache.
Seizures.
Confusion or altered mental status.
Neurological problems.

What causes Japanese encephalitis?

The cause of Japanese encephalitis (JE) is infection with the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a member of the Flavivirus family.

Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV): The disease is caused by infection with JEV, a mosquito-borne flavivirus.
Mosquito Bites : Humans become infected when bitten by infected Culex mosquitoes, which carry the virus from animals to people.
Animal Reservoirs : Pigs and wading birds act as natural hosts, maintaining the virus in the environment and enabling mosquito transmission.
Geographical Risk : Living in or traveling to rural or agricultural areas of Asia and the Western Pacific increases exposure to infected mosquitoes.
Accidental Host: Humans are dead-end hosts, meaning the virus does not spread from person to person, but infection can still lead to serious illness.