Japanese encephalitis fatality rate increases

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Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases increased in the country with a high fatality rate among children resulting to an increase in the demand of vaccine.

The Department of Health (DOH) alarmed the public for the rapid increase in JE cases because there is no cure for the disease while the vaccine is too expensive. According to reports, there is a high demand of the vaccine but there is shortage of supply. Japanese encephalitis is a vector-borne disease caused by the transmission of the Culex mosquito. The symptoms are abdominal pains, fever, and seizures.

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the “case fatality” rate among those with JE, can be as high as 30 percent, which means three out of ten affected by the disease could die. DOH said in a statement that they are planning to include the Japanese encephalitis vaccine in the government’s national immunization program by next year.