Japanese Encephalitis Spreads in Northern Vietnam

Japanese encephalitis is quickly spreading in the Vietnam’s northern provinces, according to Tran Dac Phu Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health. About 15 cases who suffered from Japanese encephalitis were treated at the Emergency Department of the Central Tropical Diseases Hospital in recent days. Meanwhile in Bach Mai Hospital’s Pediatrics Department, nearly 10 cases of the disease are being treated in the hospital. Cases of Japanese encephalitis have been recorded in the cities and northern provinces of Hanoi, Bac Giang, Dien Bien, Son La, Haiphong, Thai Binh, Lao Cai and Thanh Hoa central province. Prolonged hot weather is creating favorable conditions for mosquito development and is leading to a high risk of the mosquito-borne disease spreading, Phu said. Japanese encephalitis is caused by the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus that can spread the disease throughout the year, especially in summer. The disease is more common among children under 15. Japanese encephalitis is transmitted to humans through infected culex genus mosquitoes. The symptoms of Japanese encephalitis, which commonly known as “brain inflammation”, include high fever, nausea and, in severe cases, seizures, paralysis and coma. While there is no cure for the disease, treatment focuses on relieving severe clinical signs and helping the patient to beat the infection. (cand.com.vn July 11, bnews.vn July 10)