JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a potentially serious mosquito-borne disease found mainly in Asia

OVERVIEWSIGNS & SYMPTOMSDISEASE PROTECTION

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WAYS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CONTRACTING JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS

Alongside vaccination, travellers can help reduce their risk of JE infection by taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites.2

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Stay in accommodation with air-conditioned or well-screened rooms, or use bed nets and aerosol room insecticides.2

Woman sat on a bed looking out of a window at the sun

EXPOSURE

Minimise outdoor activities during peak biting hours, typically from dusk to dawn.5,6

BARRIER PROTECTION

Use insect repellent on both skin and clothing, and wear a light-coloured, loose, long-sleeved shirt and long trousers when outdoors.2

VACCINATION CAN PROTECT AGAINST JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS3,4


At present, treatment for JE only focusses on relieving the symptoms with supportive therapies, so vaccination is considered the optimal means of protection against the disease.3,4

The WHO recommends vaccination programmes in all areas where JE is a public health issue.7

An individual risk assessment can help identify travellers who could benefit from JE vaccination.4 When it comes to JE, just one infected mosquito bite may be all it takes. Therefore, shorter-term travellers (i.e., less than one month) may also be offered vaccination depending on their planned trip duration, season, location, activities and accommodation.8

In general, JE vaccination can be recommended for travellers in countries with a risk of JE, primarily:9

THOSE TRAVELLING DURING THE JEV TRANSMISSION SEASON
LONGER-TERM TRAVELLERS
THOSE SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS IN RURAL AREAS
THOSE STAYING IN ACCOMMODATION WITHOUT AIR-CONDITIONING, SCREENS OR MOSQUITO NETS

You can help protect travellers from the risk of JE with IXIARO® Japanese encephalitis vaccine (inactivated, adsorbed).10

LEARN MORE ABOUT JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS

Get in-depth information on symptoms, diagnosis, disease protection and more.

JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS

OVERVIEW

Gain a useful overview of this potentially fatal, mosquito-borne disease.

JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Spot the signs that may indicate JE and learn more about the disease’s lasting effects.

Useful Links
References
  1. NaTHNaC Travel Health Pro. Japanese encephalitis. June 2026. Available at: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/55/japanese-encephalitis. Accessed: July 2026.
  2. NaTHNaC Travel Health Pro. Insect and tick bite avoidance. March 2024. Available at: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/38/insect-and-tick-bite-avoidance. Accessed: July 2026.
  3. Yun SI, Lee YM. Japanese encephalitis: the virus and vaccines. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2014;10(2):263-279.
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Japanese Encephalitis. Japanese Encephalitis Virus. May 2024. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/japanese-encephalitis/prevention/index.html. Accessed: July 2026.
  5. Gowda NN, Vijayan VA. Biting density, behavior and age distribution of Culex quinquefasciatus, say in Mysore City, India. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1993;24(1):152-156.
  6. Jemberie W, Dugassa S, Animut A. Biting Hour and Host Seeking Behavior of Aedes Species in Urban Settings, Metema District, Northwest Ethiopia. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2025;10(2):38.
  7. World Health Organization. Japanese encephalitis. August 6, 2024. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/japanese-encephalitis. Accessed: July 2026.
  8. Connor B, Bunn WB. The changing epidemiology of Japanese encephalitis and New data: the implications for New recommendations for Japanese encephalitis vaccine. Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines. 2017;3:14.
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine. Japanese Encephalitis Virus. May 2024. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/japanese-encephalitis/prevention/japanese-encephalitis-vaccine.html. Accessed: July 2026.
  10. IXIARO®. Summary of Product Characteristics. March 2023. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6534. Accessed: July 2026.

UK-JE-2600006 July 2026