Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine

Vaccine Category Age Group Price
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine IXIARO®
(Inactivated viral)
From 2 months and over £85.00
Booster All of the Above

How is the vaccine administered to Travellers?

The vaccination is given as an injection and requires two doses for full protection, with the second dose given 28 days after the first.

Booster

Booster at 12 months if at continuous risk.
All others, boost between 12-24 months.

AREAS HIGHLY AFFECTED

Major outbreaks are every 2 to 15 years, usually in high risk areas on the rainy or monsoon season.

SIDE EFFECTS

  • Soreness
  • Redness or swelling
  • A headache
  • Muscle pain

WHO MUST NOT TAKE THIS VACCINATION

  • If the person getting the vaccine has any severe, life-threatening allergies.

5 FACTS – Did You Know that?

  • There is no cure for the disease.
  • Treatment is focused on relieving severe clinical signs and supporting the patient to overcome the infection.
  • Japanese encephalitis virus is a flavivirus related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses, and is spread by mosquitoes.
  • 24 countries around South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions have endemic JEV transmission, exposing more than 3 billion people to risks of infection.
  • Although symptomatic Japanese encephalitis is rare, the case-fatality rate among those with encephalitis can be as high as 30%.

What is Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine?

Description

Japanese Encephalitis is a viral infection that affects the brain. It is most common in rural areas of South East Asia, Pacific Islands and the Far East however it rarely presents itself in travellers. Unfortunately there is no cure for Japanese Encephalitis other than infected persons being admitted into hospital for the purposes of treating the symptoms whilst the body fights off the infection.

Transmission

Japanese Encephalitis is a virus that is transmitted through mosquito bites. Pigs and water birds are the acting source of the virus and these are the animals that mosquitos feed of. Different times of the year make the transmission rate decrease, rainy seasons being the highest at risk.

Symptoms

Usual symptom are fever and headache, but sometimes they are no visible symptoms.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment available for Japanese Encephalitis, only supportive care

Prevention

Japanese Encephalitis can be prevented by pre-vaccination and correct prevention measures against mosquito bites, such use of effective insect repellents and use of mosquito nets.