Experiences with

Japanese encephalitis

Check if you're at risk of Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is not found in the UK. It's mostly found in rural areas of Asia, but it's rare for travellers to get it.

It's caused by a virus which is spread through mosquito bites.

Places where Japanese encephalitis is found include parts of:

• India
• China
• Japan
• South Korea
• Indonesia
• Southeast Asia (such as Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam)

How to lower your risk of Japanese encephalitis

There are some things you can do to avoid mosquito bites when travelling to areas with a risk of Japanese encephalitis.

• use insect repellent on exposed skin, ideally containing at least 50% DEET

• sleep under a mosquito net treated with insecticide

• when possible, wear long-sleeved tops, trousers or long skirts, socks and shoes to protect your skin from mosquito bites

• get advice from a travel vaccination clinic before you travel

A vaccine for Japanese encephalitis is recommended if you're travelling to a part of the world where the virus is found, especially if:

• you're staying for more than a month
• you're staying in a rural area
• you're staying near or visiting rice fields, wetlands, or places where pigs are kept

You'll have to pay for the Japanese encephalitis vaccine. You can get it from travel health clinics and pharmacies with travel health services.

Symptoms of Japanese encephalitis

Most people who get Japanese encephalitis have no symptoms.

Some people get flu-like symptoms such as:

• a headache
• a high temperature
• feeling or being sick
• tummy pain

The symptoms usually go away on their own, but in some people the infection spreads to the brain and causes more serious symptoms such as:

• a severe headache
• feeling confused
• not being able to feel or move parts of your body (paralysis)
• seizures (fits)

You've recently travelled to an area where Japanese encephalitis is found and you have flu-like symptoms such as:

• a headache
• a high temperature
• feeling or being sick
• tummy pain

Tell anyone you speak to about your recent travel, and if you were bitten by a mosquito or might have been.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online .

• a severe headache and a stiff neck
• sudden confusion (for example, not being sure of your name, age, or where you are)
• sudden weakness or suddenly not being able to feel or move part of your body (paralysis)
• a seizure (fit)
• loss of consciousness
• severe difficulty breathing

Treatment for Japanese encephalitis

You'll need to be treated in hospital if you're seriously unwell because Japanese encephalitis can be life-threatening.

Treatments for Japanese encephalitis include medicines to help relieve the symptoms, such as painkillers and steroids.

Japanese encephalitis can sometimes cause long-term complications such as paralysis, seizures, and loss of speech.

Japanese encephalitis is not found in the UK. It's mostly found in rural parts of Asia and is caused by a virus that's spread through mosquito bites.

You can reduce your risk of getting Japanese encephalitis while travelling by avoiding mosquito bites and getting the Japanese encephalitis vaccine.

Symptoms of Japanese encephalitis can include a headache, stiff neck, being sick, tummy pain, confusion, seizures and a high temperature.

If you're seriously ill with Japanese encephalitis you'll need to be treated in hospital where you'll be given medicines to help with the symptoms.

Related links

Japanese encephalitis

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