Japanese Encephalitis Reported in Northern Luzon, Philippines

So far this year, eight people in the Cordillera Region of northern Luzon have been infected with the virus that causes Japanese encephalitis. Two of the patients resided in Benguet, while one was from Baguio City. The Cordillera Region consists of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Provinces, as well as portions of eastern Ilocos Norte, eastern Ilocos Sur, eastern La Union, northeastern Pangasinan, western Nueva Vizcaya, and western Cagayan.

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Sporadic cases of Japanese encephalitis occur in various parts of the Philippines, including Luzon Island. The risk of Japanese encephalitis is very low for most travellers to Asia, particularly for short-term visitors to urban areas. However, the risk varies according to the season, destination, duration of travel and activities. Travellers to areas where this virus is circulating can reduce their risk of exposure to Japanese encephalitis virus by taking all necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites. While vaccination against Japanese encephalitis is generally recommended for travellers visiting rural areas or engaging in agricultural activities such as rice cultivation, some of these agricultural activities where mosquitoes breed may be near or within urban centres.