Nepal reports sharp rise in Japanese encephalitis in 2025; Seeks help for 2026 vaccination campaign
The Nepal Ministry of Health and Population has reported 35 fatalities to Japanese encephalitis (JE), and another 175 cases since June, numbers significantly higher than 2024 when 80 cases were reported, including 23 deaths.
Lumbini province reported the most cases and deaths with 55 and 11, respectively.
Seventy percent of lab-confirmed JE cases have been detected in those above 15 years of age.
The Ministry wants to launch a mass immunization drive for JE in 2026; however, no development partners have shown interest to finance the program.
According to a report in the Kathmandu Post: Health officials said that their attempts to persuade development partners, including the World Health Organization, to support a mass JE vaccination campaign have not succeeded, as JE vaccination is not in priority of the aid agencies including the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations.
Japanese encephalitis with Dr. Melvin Sanicas
“Yes, officials are preparing an assessment report including estimated cost for the mass campaign,” said Dr Ramesh Kanta Adhikari, senior immunization expert and the chair of the National Immunization Advisory Committee. “We also hope the Chinese government helps with the immunization drive, as Chinese companies manufacture JE vaccines.”
New data from the Immunization Section of the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services shows that the majority—76 percent—of JE related deaths occurred in people above 40 years of age, meaning that all deceased were unvaccinated.
The vaccine is in its routine immunization list, which the government provides free of cost to all children.
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Japanese encephalitis is a deadly infectious disease found mainly in Asia. About 70,000 cases of JE are estimated to occur in Asia each year, although the actual number of cases is likely much higher due to underreporting in rural areas. JE is fatal in approximately 30 percent of those who show symptoms, and leaves half of survivors with permanent brain damage. The disease is endemic in Southeast Asia, India and China, a region with a population of more than three billion.
In 2005, JE killed nearly 2,000 people in Nepal—mostly children in districts in the southern plains. Nepal started administering the vaccine in 2006, eight years before the World Health Organization officially issued prequalification certification, due to high rates of infection and deaths from the virus at the time.