Binay to DOH: Don’t be complacent on Japanese encephalitis

Sen. Nancy Binay yesterday urged the Department of Health (DOH) to be cautious in its efforts to quell the public scare brought on by reports of high costs and shortage of the vaccine against Japanese encephalitis (JE).

To date, Japanese encephalitis has claimed nine lives in the Philippines, particularly in Pampanga, Zambales, Pangasinan, Laguna and Nueva Ecija.

These are part of a total of 133 cases of the disease recorded from Jan. 1 to Aug. 26. Out of the 133 cases, 53 were from Central Luzon of which 22 cases were recorded in Pampanga.

Binay said while the figure might not be alarming to the DOH, “it has caused many parents to worry over their children’s susceptibility to the disease.”

“I urge the DOH to look into quelling the public’s fears through a comprehensive information campaign,” Binay said.

“Health is a sensitive issue and must be treated with care. The DOH must remember this in its efforts to address the issues surrounding Japanese encephalitis,” she added.

The senator issued the statement as public clamor for vaccines against JE mounted, prompting the DOH to issue warnings against purchasing vaccines from unknown sources as well as administering it during the rainy season when it is said to be less effective.

According to reports, stocks of the JE vaccine are running low due to the sudden rise in demand from the public.

This has caused many to look for alternative sources of the vaccine, prompting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a warning against buying JE vaccines, which are of questionable quality and may even pose health risks.

“If it is not recommended for the vaccine to be administered during this time, the DOH must intensify its efforts to spread this information to the public. Because while there are efforts to do this, many are still looking for other ways to procure the vaccines despite warnings against doing so,” Binay said.

JE is a viral disease spread by the Culex mosquito from pigs and waterbirds. It targets the nervous system, causing high fever, headache, stiff neck, disorientation, paralysis, seizures, coma and even death.

There is no cure for JE and the World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier said most survivors of the illness experience physical, learning and behavioral disabilities, and cognitive and language problems.

The DOH recommends the vaccination against JE as well as the use of insect repellents, mosquito nets and clothes with good coverage as preventive measures. But while the agency has pointed out that “vaccination is the best way to prevent JE,” it only plans to introduce the vaccine into the national immunization program come 2018.

Imojev is the only brand of JE vaccine in the country to date and can cost P2,500 to P4,000 per shot, depending on the hospital where it is bought.

The WHO has recommended that vaccination against JE be integrated into national immunization schedules in areas where the disease is considered a public health issue.

The agency warns that the case fatality of this disease can be as high as 30 percent, meaning three out of 10 patients could die.