Japanese Encephalitis Scare

I was surprised when I reported for work on the first working day of September at the San Beda College Health Office in Manila. Some members of the faculty and non-teaching personnel visited me to ask for the availability of Japanese encephalitis vaccine. When I asked them what they were worried about, their answers were the same – The spread of the disease that they read about on social media. Meanwhile, Manila Times Online reported sometime in February 2017, "Japanese encephalitis, a mosquito-borne illness endemic to the Philippines and which is fatal in nearly 3 out of 10 severe cases, may be one the rise, a World Health Organization (WHO) report said, after the discovery last year by Chinese researchers that the current vaccine may not be effective against a re-emerging strain of the virus."

My clinical opinion

According to WHO, the Philippines is not among the countries in Southeast Asia where the disease is found to be prevalent. In other words, our country is not one where a "red warning sign" is placed on. Therefore, there is nothing to be scared about Japanese encephalitis. A "certified" or "DOH-identified outbreak" has yet to come out. And thus, the uncertified information spreading via social media propagated a Japanese encephalitis scare.

What is Japanese encephalitis?

Japanese encephalitis is a swelling or inflammation of the brain caused by a virus (Japanese B encephalitis virus).

How do you get the disease?

The impending virus infection is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. In the Philippines, the disease is carried by a mosquito called, Culex tritaeniorchynchus (Never mind. Such a simple name that I can't even pronounce it.). To simplify matters: Mosquitoes carry the disease (clinically referred to as vectors of the disease). The reservoir of the virus are domestic pigs and wild birds (This gives us chance to go back again to hot public health issues on agricultural and farm animals. Ooh la la!).

Signs and symptoms

If you live in the province or if you plan to travel in a rural area or to stay in a farm and you get bitten by Culex, the virus starts to multiple inside you, to cause the disease between the periods of 2 to 15 days. Symptoms include rigors or chills, headache, body weakness, nausea, vomiting, fever, and other symptoms that may last between 1 and 6 days. In severe cases, paralysis and neurological damage may lead to coma or death.

Prevention

Use mosquito repellent; Use long-sleeved shirts and long trousers; sleep or rest in screened or air-conditioned rooms; and if needed, use mosquito nets.