The number of deaths is more now compared to 10 years ago. Among the dead are people over 40 who have not been vaccinated.
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This year, 31 people have died from Japanese encephalitis. Dr. Abhiyaan Gautam, Head of Child Health and Immunization Branch, Department of Health Services, Family Welfare Division, informed that the number of deaths due to Japanese encephalitis is the highest in Nepal compared to 10 years ago.
There were 25 deaths in 2024, seven in 2023 and one in 2017 due to Japanese encephalitis. From 2018 to 2022, no one died from Japanese encephalitis. "The number of deaths is more now compared to 10 years ago," Gautam said, "Those who die are those over 40 who have not been vaccinated."
According to him, Japanese encephalitis infection was seen in 164 people this year and 86 last year. Dr. Gautam, head of the vaccination branch, said that even after the vaccination gradually stopped working, people who had been vaccinated were still dying due to infection. Japanese encephalitis has now spread to 110 municipalities in 42 districts.
'Looking at the past statistics, the infection of Japanese encephalitis is increasing,' he said, 'we are studying whether it is due to the activation of mosquitoes, pig or duck breeding.' According to him, 31 people have died this year in Koshi Province, three in Madhesh, five in Bagmati, five in Gandaki, 11 in Lumbini, one in Karnali and two in Sudurpaschim Province.
28 districts are at high risk of encephalitis. This disease is especially seen from July to November. In Nepal, 82 percent of children have been vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis. In Nepal, since 1998, children under the age of one year have been routinely vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis. In 1978, Japanese encephalitis disease was first observed in Rupandehi in Nepal. It was seen in Japan in 1861.
Dr. Gautam, the head of the vaccine branch, said that the Japanese encephalitis infection has been increasing since 1990. Since then, the government has been regularly giving the vaccine against encephalitis to children under five years of age in the national vaccination.
