Six JE deaths in 10 cases put Jhapa at centre of vaccination push

Japanese encephalitis has claimed six lives out of 10 confirmed cases in Nepal's Jhapa district since an outbreak began in mid-July. This alarming 60 percent case-fatality rate, the highest in the country, has compelled health officials to consider an emergency vaccination campaign targeting adults.

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The death rate of 60 percent is alarming. We are preparing to start vaccination from Jhapa district for people above 30 years of age.

Officials are preparing to administer existing childhood vaccine stocks to individuals over 30 in Jhapa as a first phase. "The death rate of 60 percent is alarming," stated Dr. Manohar Pradhan, an expert advisor to the Health Minister. The nation is grappling with a significant JE outbreak, reporting at least 21 deaths and over 60 infections across all seven provinces in less than two months.

Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection that can be fatal for about a third of severe cases, with many survivors left with lifelong disabilities. While Nepal's routine immunization program covers children under 24 months, it excludes adults, who have increasingly been affected by the disease in recent years. Data from the current outbreak reveals that 89 percent of those infected were unvaccinated, and 81 percent of those who died were unvaccinated adults over 50.

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The date of the rollout has not yet been finalised, but we will start immunisation within the next three weeks. We hope that immunisation will lessen the severity of the infection and reduce deaths.

Health authorities plan to procure 3.5 million doses of the JE vaccine for nine high-risk districts. "We will start immunisation within the next three weeks," said Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section, expressing hope that the campaign will reduce infection severity and deaths. Public health experts emphasize the need for swift vaccine procurement, noting that immunity develops within weeks and that vaccination can lessen future infection risks.

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Administration of JE vaccine will lessen the risk of future infection as well. The government must explore ways to bring in the vaccine at the earliest.