VietNamNet Bridge – Japanese encephalitis cases account for around 10 per cent of 1,000 cases of viral encephalitis reported every year in Viet Nam.

A doctor at the National Hospital of Pediatrics treats a child suffering from viral encephalitis.

Nearly 60 per cent of viral encephalitis cases are discovered in northern Viet Nam.

Deputy director of the Ha Noi-based National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Tran Nhu Duong, said children under 10 were most susceptible to Japanese encephalitis, with the highest number of instances occurring in June and July.   

According to health experts, the best preventive measure is vaccination.

The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, and can cause complications such as respiratory distress, convulsions and pneumonia.

It is estimated that 30 per cent of Japanese encephalitis cases end in death, and between a third and half of patients that survive are left with neurological or severe mental conditions.

Therefore, in order to proactively prevent the disease, the 2017-2018 national immunisation programme will deploy additional Japanese encephalitis vaccines for children from 6 to 15 years old in mountainous and high-risk areas.

VNS