In 2005, Japanese encephalitis killed about 2,000 people in Nepal, most of whom were children from the Terai.
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With the onset of the rainy season, an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis has begun in Nepal. In the last 20 days, one person has died and three people have been confirmed to be infected. Health workers have advised people to be cautious, saying that the infection could become an epidemic in the coming days.
Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection that affects the brain, which has spread to some countries in Asia and the West Pacific. It is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, which belongs to the same group as dengue, Zika, yellow fever and West Nile virus. 'One person has recently died of Japanese encephalitis. Three others have been confirmed to be infected,' said Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, head of the Vaccination Branch of the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. 'Infections of insect-borne diseases, including Japanese encephalitis, increase during the monsoon, which will be more challenging for us.'
According to officials, the deceased is a 70-year-old man from Itahari Sub-metropolitan City of Sunsari. He had not traveled abroad or to other districts. He was admitted to the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences for treatment. He also had diabetes and high blood pressure and was being treated on a ventilator. He was discharged from the hospital at the request of his family after his health condition deteriorated, officials said.
Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection that affects the brain, which has spread to some countries in Asia and the Western Pacific. It is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, which belongs to the same group as dengue, Zika, yellow fever and West Nile viruses.
According to the World Health Organization, about one-third of those infected with the virus die, while half of those who survive can be severely disabled for life.
Since the onset of monsoon, Japanese encephalitis virus infection has been confirmed in 4 districts including Sunsari, Ilam, Surkhet and Chitwan. In 2025, Japanese encephalitis spread to more than 117 local levels in more than 45 districts, and 41 people died. Another 141 people were infected. 23 percent of the total infected died.
In 2024, 23 people died from Japanese encephalitis across the country, including 1 person from the Kathmandu Valley. More than 80 were infected. Japanese encephalitis can cause long-term damage to the brain and nervous system. Since there is no specific treatment for it, doctors treat it according to the symptoms.
According to officials, Japanese encephalitis is the most deadly disease among the insect-borne diseases in Nepal.
Vaccination against Japanese encephalitis is recommended.
Vaccination experts and experts from the National Vaccination Advisory Committee have recommended that all unvaccinated citizens receive at least one dose of the vaccine against Japanese encephalitis (JE). According to them, unvaccinated people are at risk of infection, serious illness, and even death.
Last year's data also showed that most of the people who died or became seriously ill due to Japanese encephalitis were unvaccinated. According to the data, 76 percent of those who died from JE were above 40 years of age, while about 70 percent of those infected were above 15 years of age. This means that most of the deceased and infected people were not vaccinated. The government only included the vaccine against Japanese encephalitis in the routine vaccination program in 2015. It has been provided regularly by government health institutions for 11 months after the birth of a child.
Experts say everyone should get at least one dose of the vaccine to prevent JE infection and death. JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes. Meanwhile, the government has allocated a budget of Rs 460 million this year to conduct a vaccination campaign in 11 districts with a high risk of Japanese encephalitis.
Health officials say Chitwan, Kailali, Tanahun, Dang, Jhapa, Kapilvastu, Morang, Rupandehi, Sunsari, Rautahat and Sarlahi have been prioritized because they have high rates of JE infection and death. Officials say the vaccination campaign will not begin before April. This means that the vaccine campaign will not prevent the deaths that will occur this year.
'Starting the JE vaccination program is not as easy as it seems,' Dr. Gautam said, 'the vaccine procurement process and supply take a long time.'
In 2005, about 2,000 people died in Nepal due to Japanese encephalitis, most of whom were children from the Terai.
Due to high infection and mortality rates, Nepal started a vaccination campaign against JE in 2006, eight years before the World Health Organization (WHO) granted the vaccine prequalification. The vaccination program was later expanded with the support of donors and global health partners.
Experts say everyone should get at least one dose of the vaccine to prevent infection and death from JE. The JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes. Doctors have also urged public awareness campaigns along with vaccination, as pig and duck farmers and people living near rice fields are at high risk of the disease.
