Monsoon brings this year’s first JE death, three infections

At least one person has died and three others have contracted Japanese encephalitis (JE) since the monsoon season began in Nepal approximately three weeks ago. Health officials are bracing for a potential rise in infections and fatalities as the rainy season intensifies, creating favorable conditions for mosquito-borne diseases.

Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division, confirmed the recent death and three cases. "The coming days will be more challenging, as vector-borne diseases, including JE, tend to spread during monsoon season," he stated.

The deceased was a 70-year-old man from Itahari Sub-metropolitan City in Sunsari district. He had no travel history and was hospitalized with underlying conditions, including high blood sugar and blood pressure, before his family requested his discharge from the hospital. JE cases have been reported in Sunsari, Ilam, Surkhet, and Chitwan districts.

JE is a viral brain infection prevalent in Asia, transmitted by mosquitoes. It belongs to the flavivirus family, which also includes dengue and Zika. The World Health Organization reports that about one-third of those who develop severe JE die, and up to half of survivors face severe lifelong disabilities. Experts identify JE as the leading cause of death among vector-borne diseases in Nepal.

Immunisation experts recommend a single JE vaccine dose for all unvaccinated individuals, emphasizing that the unvaccinated population is at the highest risk. Data from the previous year showed that most JE fatalities and severe outcomes occurred among the unvaccinated, with 76 percent of deaths and 70 percent of infections involving individuals over 40 and 15 years old, respectively. The government has allocated Rs 460 million to launch JE vaccination in 11 high-burden districts, though the program is not scheduled to begin until April of the following year.

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The coming days will be more challenging, as vector-borne diseases, including JE, tend to spread during monsoon season.