Philippines: Japanese encephalitis in Nueva Vizcaya province

Event

Health officials reported on Monday, November 20, that eight cases of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) have been confirmed in Nueva Vizcaya province. The eight cases reportedly occurred between May and August. While health officials do not believe there is a major outbreak of the disease, they advised individuals to take proper precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

Context

Typical encephalitis is spread via mosquito bite, with symptoms including headache, fever, aches in muscles or joints, fatigue, or weakness. The symptoms of the more serious Japanese encephalitis include fever, headache, vomiting, confusion, difficulty moving, swelling around the brain, and coma. Symptoms typically develop five to 15 days after infection.

Advice

Individuals are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g., by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in a screened-in or air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds (small pockets of fresh water, such as rain water that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).