Japanese encephalitis cases closely monitored

MANILA - The government is closely monitoring the incidence of mosquitoborne Japanese encephalitis in the country that has so far claimed nine lives, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto assured the government is doubling its effort to step up preventive measures to avoid mosquito-borne disease that typically rises during the rainy season.

"The government assures the public that it is closely monitoring cases of Japanese encephalitis in the country with the onset of the rainy season when transmission of the virus peaks because of the rise of the mosquito population," Abella said in a statement.

"We encourage the local government units to report and notify suspect cases of Japanese encephalitis," he added.

Japanese encephalitis is a viral disease transmitted to human through the bite of the Culex tritaenio-rhyncus mosquito.

Symptoms of the virus, which usually take five to 15 days to develop, include fever, headache, vomiting, confusion, and difficulty in moving.

The disease may also result in neck stiffness, seizures, paralysis, coma, and possible death.

The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded nine deaths from January 1 to August 26.

Seven of the nine casualties were reported in Central Luzon, including four in Pampanga, two in Zambales, and one in Nueva Ecija. The two other deaths were in Pangasinan and Laguna. SunStar Philippines