‘JE just a mosquito bite away’
Risk of Japanese Encephalitis infection still high, vaccination best option, says Health Ministry section chief
KUCHING: Sarawakians are still at high risk of being infected with the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus despite the number of cases dropping over the years, says Ministry of Health’s Vector-Borne Disease Sector head Dr Rose Nani Mudin.
She points out that JE is a vector-borne zoonotic disease spread through the bite of a Culex mosquito, which is responsible for the transmission of the JE virus, and can be deadly.
“It (JE) is transmitted from animals, usually pigs or wild birds, through the Culex mosquito and in terms of prevention and control, it’s not easy because you have to control the mosquitoes that transmit this virus to the human.
“We also cannot cull all the pigs carrying the virus because they are not sick, nor can we catch all the wild birds. This, as such, is the main challenge for us to contain 100 per cent of the disease,” she said during a media dialogue session on JE, here yesterday.
Also present was Sarawak General Hospital senior consultant paediatrician Dr Ooi Mong How.
Dr Rose Nani disclosed that last year, there were 11 JE cases reported in Sarawak, versus 40 to 50 reported cases when the disease was first detected in the state in 1999.
“In 2019, 11 JE cases reported in Sarawak were from the rural areas, of which one involved a child while the remaining cases comprised patients aged 15 and above.
“Although the number of JE cases is small compared to dengue cases, it is a very serious disease. The fatality rate among those infected with JE can be as high as 30 per cent, while up to 30 per cent of survivors develop permanent neurological disabilities that can alter one’s life.”
According to her, JE is a vaccine-preventable disease, and that vaccination was made compulsory in 2001 under the National Immunisation Programme (NIP) following the high incidence of JE and existence of high-risk factors in the state’s environment.
It (JE) is transmitted from animals, usually pigs or wild birds, through the Culex mosquito and in terms of prevention and control, it’s not easy because you have to control the mosquitoes that transmit this virus to the human.
Dr Rose Nani Mudin
However, she noted that cases of JE still occurred in Sarawak, but that there were parents who did not look into getting their children vaccinated with the JE vaccine.
“There are children or babies who have not been vaccinated either due to their parents forgetting to get their children vaccinated, or the vaccination is incomplete.”
She reminded Sarawakians, particularly parents, not to be complacent about JE and urged them to ensure that their children receive the complete JE vaccine.
She added that adults, particularly those living or working in high- risk areas such as farms and forests, are also advised to get themselves vaccinated as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, Dr Ooi said a person receiving JE vaccination ought to follow the recommended schedule to gain benefits from the immunisation.
“According to the Ministry of Health vaccination schedule, a child requires two doses, namely one at nine months and another a year later, whereas adults in contrast only require one dose to get the maximum protection from JE infection.
“It’s very easy, convenient and the benefit is a lot as far as health is concerned.”
Asked if there were any medication for a person infected with JE, he explained that most viral infections such as JE do not have specific effective medication.
“However we have very effective vaccination. If we can prevent disease by getting vaccination, why do we want to wait for the disease to occur and try to find a solution to treat the problem?
“Logically, if we can prevent it, we want to prevent it right from the beginning and not wait for the problem to surface and then try to solve it,” he stressed.
Dr Ooi said while there have not been many reported JE cases in the state since the successful implementation of compulsory JE vaccination under NIP, this did not mean that there would no longer be any such cases in future.
“The concern nowadays is that people start to become complacent and let their guard down because they don’t see such cases anymore.
“This is what we want to remind the people – on the importance of keeping up with their JE vaccination and that parents must continue bringing their children for vaccination.”