Taiwan reports first Japanese encephalitis cases of 2024
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week the confirmation of two cases of Japanese encephalitis (JE).
The first case is a woman in her 70s from Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City. On May 6, she developed fever, sore throat, vomiting, dizziness and other symptoms and went to a clinic for treatment. She sought medical treatment again on May 7 and was admitted to the hospital for treatment due to tremors, slowed speech, and changes in consciousness during the emergency. Later, she was notified and diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis by the hospital and was examined. She is currently being hospitalized.
The second case is a 60-year-old man in Gangshan District, Kaohsiung City. He was hospitalized for treatment of upper abdominal pain on May 4. He developed fever symptoms on May 6. He developed neck stiffness, facial nerve paralysis, dysphagia, hearing impairment and other symptoms and a change of consciousness on May 9. He was later confirmed to have Japanese encephalitis, and he died in the hospital on May 12 due to worsening of his condition.
The daily activities of both cases are mainly around their homes. There are high-risk places such as pigeonhouses, pig houses, and paddy fields near their homes. There is no Japanese encephalitis vaccination record in either case.
It is estimated that the possibility of infection is higher near the residence. The health unit has hung mosquito traps in the pig houses around the case site, strengthened health education propaganda to the local people, and requested medical institutions to strengthen notifications.
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From the beginning of year to May 14, two JE cases have been confirmed in the country.
The Japanese encephalitis epidemic season in Taiwan is from May to October every year, with June to July being the epidemic peak. From 2020 to 2023 The number of confirmed cases in the country during the same period this year was 0, 2, 0 and 2 respectively.
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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, JEÂ killed more than 1,200 children in only one month during an epidemic outbreak in Uttar Pradesh, India, and Nepal.