About a week after Taiwan health officials reported the first Japanese encephalitis case of 2026, The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced one new confirmed case in a one-year-old girl from Hualien City, Hualien County, who is not yet of age for Japanese encephalitis vaccination.
She has no history of domestic or international travel or congenital diseases. In late May, she developed fever and lethargy and sought medical attention at the emergency room, where she was hospitalized. During her hospitalization, she continued to experience high fever and epileptic seizures. After being notified by the hospital and undergoing testing, she was diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis and is currently hospitalized. None of her family members living with her have shown any similar symptoms. There are no high-risk areas near the patient's residence.
According to data from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there have been two confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis in Taiwan this year (2026). The Japanese encephalitis epidemic season in Taiwan is from May to October each year, with the peak occurring in June and July.
The CDC stated that the mosquitoes that transmit Japanese encephalitis in Taiwan are mainly Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Culex annularis, and Culex pipiens labyrinthus, which commonly breed in rice paddies, ponds, and irrigation ditches. Most people infected with Japanese encephalitis do not experience obvious symptoms. Those with symptoms may experience headaches and fever. Severe cases may present with altered consciousness, disorientation, general weakness, and even coma or death. The public is advised to avoid being in high-risk mosquito-carrying areas such as pigsties and other animal sheds during peak mosquito activity times, such as early morning or evening. If unavoidable, wear light-colored long-sleeved clothing and apply government-approved mosquito repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or Imamectin (IR3535) to exposed skin.
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Centers for Disease Control (CDC) emphasizes that the most effective way to prevent Japanese encephalitis is through vaccination. In Taiwan, the routine vaccination schedule for children is the first dose at 15 months of age, followed by a second dose 12 months later. The public is reminded to take eligible children to local health centers or contracted medical facilities for timely vaccination to avoid serious long-term consequences from infection. Furthermore, residents living near high-risk environments such as pigsties and rice paddies should implement mosquito prevention measures.