The alarming spread of Japanese encephalitis: A growing public health concern

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a zoonotic infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. JE is caused by the Japanese
encephalitis virus (JEV), a member of the Orthoflavivirus genus. In 1871, the first JEV-related encephalitis outbreak
was documented in Japan. JEV is the primary cause of viral encephalitis in the Asian subcontinent. In addition, isolated
outbreaks have been noted in northern Australia and the Western Pacific. JEV infection usually results in a strong
physiological immune response in humans, including cellular and adaptive humoral immunity. The neurological
system is the primary site of alterations. JE mostly affects the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, anterior horn cells of the
spinal cord, and thalamus. The disease’s initial symptoms show up six to fourteen days after incubation. Typically,
it begins with a temperature above 38°C, chills, headaches similar to meningitis, muscle aches, and vomiting. The
established method for diagnosing JE is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. JEV can be spread by
a variety of Culex mosquito species. Risk factors for JE include travel, outdoor activities, accommodation, proximity to
animals, gender, and age. The World Health Organization estimates that 15,000 people die of JE each year, with about
50,000 cases occurring globally. This illness has no known cure. The only available treatment is supportive. A large
number of approved vaccines are used to prevent JEV infection. Strategies to avoid human illness and interfere with
the virus’s enzootic cycle are employed in controlling JE.