Japanese Encephalitis

Introduction (What is Japanese Encephalitis? (JE))

  • Japanese Encephalitis is a mosquito borne arboviral disease that can affect the central nervous system and cause severe complications and death.

  • It is a disease of rural, semi-urban and agricultural areas.

  • Transmitted by female mosquitoes of genera

  • Vector mosquitoes proliferate in close association with pigs, wading birds and ducks, the principal amplifying hosts.

  • Sporadic cases (Occasional cases, widely distributed in time and place):

    are observed in China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Bagladesh and Eartern areas of Russia.


  • Regional, seosonal outbreaks (large number of cases occuring simultaneously at the same time and place):

    Occurs in Thailand, parts of India and Srilanka.

Indian Scenario:

  • JE was clinically diagnosed for the first time in India in 1955 at Vellore, erstwhile North Arcot district of Tamil Nadu.

  • Subsequently, the outbreaks have occurred in

  • JE virus infection is widespread and is particularly very high in Southern States of India viz.,
Occurance of JE outbreaks in India (1950-2000)
Last Updated on : 09/01/2014