About Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is spread through infected mosquito bites only—not from person to person. The mosquitoes can obtain Japanese encephalitis from biting an infected domestic pig or wild bird, which are the only carriers for the disease. Those at risk for exposure and those who live and travel to rural Asia, the Indian subcontinent or tropical Australia for more than a month should receive the Japanese encephalitis vaccine. The Japanese encephalitis vaccine creates a lifelong immunity and comes in a 3 dose series. Japanese encephalitis vaccine doses are given a month before travel, and can be administered by a travel doctor in New York. While the immunity has been seen to be lifelong, a Japanese encephalitis vaccine booster may be necessary every few years.

Japanese encephalitis is extremely rare and only about 1 in 250 (less than 1%) cases actually develop past an asymptomatic stage during a 5-15 day period. A severe Japanese encephalitis infection will have symptoms such as stiffness, disorientation, abnormal movements or convulsions, and coma or paralysis.

A travel doctor consultation in New York will provide you with information regarding the area you are traveling to, including if it is a high risk area. If it is a Japanese encephalitis-endemic area, it is recommended to receive the Japanese encephalitis vaccine as protection. A travel doctor consultation in New York will also provide you with other tips for defense against Japanese encephalitis, such as treating your clothes and living space with pesticides like permethrin, which is safe for skin contact. If you are found to have Japanese encephalitis, a travel doctor in New York will be able to direct you to the best medical assistance for your case.

Japanese Encephalitis Treatment

Japanese encephalitis treatment has not found a cure yet. Japanese encephalitis treatment is much more supportive, and treats the symptoms as they show. Since it can only be transmitted from mosquitoes to humans, the patient will not have to be isolated from other individuals. A travel doctor in New York will diagnose the disease and discuss the best method of Japanese encephalitis treatment to relieve symptoms and make the patient more comfortable during the healing process.