摘要:
Japanese encephalitis is a major cause of encephalitis in Asia.
An estimated 50 000 cases occur in largely rural areas of the south
and east Asian region resulting in significant morbidity and mortality.
While the disease has declined in Japan, South Korea, Thailand and
China, it has extended in other parts of the region, including India
and Nepal. Diagnosis of the disease is largely based on clinical
signs and symptoms, and treatment remains supportive. Further work
is needed to provide rapid reliable diagnostics and improved surveillance.
Vaccination is the mainstay of preventing serious disease in humans.
The mouse brain derived vaccine is the most widely used vaccine
though there are safety concerns. A live (SA 14-14-2) vaccine is
increasingly being used though regulatory issues around production
need to be resolved. There are also promising new vaccines undergoing
clinical trials that show potential for wide scale use. Vaccine
schedules, surveillance of adverse events, and setting up effective
vaccination programmes are important issues that need addressing
to maximise the impact of the available vaccines.