Motorists and Travelers: Here are Japanese Encephalitis Travel Advice Before Visiting Asian Countries

It is very important that motorists should know how to take proper care of themselves when heading out on a road trip, especially if you are planning to visit India, Nepal, and other neighboring Asian countries like China, Japan, Korea. Unplanned health crisis is something that you would be least expect to be surprised with on your road trip. From the recent Corona virus crisis which is spreading rapidly in Asian countries, we should aware of the prevention and cure of such viruses during our visits in those countries.  In addition to carrying basic needs and health kits, you should also be taking proper healthcare vaccines against unplanned health crisis. Such as getting proper vaccines to protect yourself from viruses transmitted by mosquito bites. Example, Japanese Encephalitis. Here are some important Japanese Encephalitis Travel Advice.

Mosquito bites is something that you will often encounter if you are travelling to Asian countries, especially if it is during the Monsoon season. While the risk of transmitted disease is very low if you are visiting the urban areas, in the rural areas, the risk is very high. According to reports, it has been estimated that there has been less than one case of Japanese Encephalitis for every million travelers. However, motorists and travelers may face the high risk, especially because of certain activities:

• Living or traveling for a long time in areas that are highly prone to the Japanese Encephalitis
• Visiting rural areas during the rainy season
• Camping, working outdoors, and cycling outdoors in rural areas

Japanese Encephalitis Travel Advice

Now that you understand why travel enthusiasts can face high chance of being infected by the virus, here are Japanese Encephalitis Travel Advice and the things that you should be aware of:

• • In endemic countries, JE is primarily a disease that infects children and adults have developed immunity through natural infection. However, travelers of any age can be easily infected by the virus.
  • Symptoms and Health Effects
  • Infections caused from JE virus are asymptomatic.
  • People infected by the virus face the risk of developing neurologic diseases.
  • Acute encephalitis is the most commonly recognized type of clinical manifestation. Other milder forms of diseases caused by the virus are aseptic meningitis or undifferentiated febrile illness.
  • Illness begins with sudden onset of headache, fever, and vomiting. Other forms of health problems that a patient may face are focal neurologic deficits, mental status changes, movement disorders ,and generalized weakness.
  • Other than this, accute flaccid paralysis, with clinical and pathological features has also been associated with the JE virus infection.
  • Seizures are common among children.

Fatality-Case ratio is approximately between 20%-30%. About 30%-50% survivors suffer from cognitive, neurologic or psychiatric sequelae.

Any Proper Health Treatment?

No such specific treatment is available for treating the JE virus infection. One should seek supportive care and management. Motorists and travel enthusiasts should make sure to take preventive measures before visiting Asian countries. For your next trip you looked around and found an interesting tool which is https://dochq.co.uk/travel-vaccine?a_aid=veri1 Easy, convenient and timely help from DocHQ Travel Health for booking to getting the vaccination done in a timely manner.

The best way to protect yourself is to avoid mosquito bites. Do not forget to carry mosquito repellents when you are traveling.

In case if you are infected already, there is one such vaccine available but it is licensed in the United States – Ixiaro.

Learn About The Accelerated Schedule

• The rapid schedule can be used if there is insufficient time to complete the standard schedule.
• Adults between 18-65 years-rapid course of 2 doses Ixiaro given at day 0 and second dose 7 days later. This schedule provides the equivalent protection 7 days after the second dose as the standard schedule.
• Additionally, the DOH guidance advises that clinical staff can adopt this ACCELERATED schedule “off license” in children aged 12-17 yrs also, if there is insufficient time before departing for their trip.

Exclusions

The vaccine cannot be given to:

• Infants under 2 months of age
• Individuals with a history of severe allergic reaction to previous dose of the vaccine or any of its components
• Acute illness with high fever (greater than 38.5 degrees Celsius)

Common Side Effects

• Local injection site reactions including redness, swelling and pain.
• Other side effects include fever, “flu-like” illness, muscle aches.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does take for the vaccine to become effective?

The vaccine is effective 7 days after the second dose has been received.

2. What does the vaccine contain?

The vaccine contains the following ingredients:

Phosphate buffered saline consisting of:

• Sodium chloride
• Potassium dihydrogen phosphate
• Disodium hydrogen phosphate
• Water for injections
• aluminum hydroxide

The vaccine does not contain the following:

• Latex
• Gelatine
• Thiomersal
• Egg

3. If I had a different brand of Japanese encephalitis, do I need to restart the course?

Previously, Green Cross vaccine was available in the UK, which consisted of a three dose course. The Department of Health advises that adults who have had a previous course of any Japanese encephalitis vaccine can receive a single dose of IXIARO® as a booster.

4. If I travel regularly to risk areas, would I need further booster?

The advice on long term protection and further boosters in adults is not known currently.

5. What about boosters in children?

The Department of Health advises that if children under 18 years are at continued risk of infection, then a booster dose can be considered.

6. Can the vaccine be given to infants under 2 years of age?

The vaccine cannot be given infants under 2 months of age, as there is no data on safety or effectiveness in this age group.

7. How effective is one dose of the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine?

Clinical studies show that one dose of the Japanese encephalitis vaccine provides around 21% protection 10 days after receiving the first dose and around 40% protection 28 days after the first dose. Therefore, if there is not enough time to complete the 2 dose course, additional insect bite prevention measures are vital in protecting against contracting the infection.

8. Can the second dose be given later than 28 days?

The second dose of Japanese encephalitis vaccine can be given up to 11 months after the 1st dose and still provide an effective immune response.