KATHMANDU, Oct 14: People travelling to the Tarai and inner-Tarai regions for Dashain, Tihar and Chhath, as well as those already living in these areas, have been urged to take precautions against Japanese encephalitis, with the risk of infection expected to persist for another month after Chhath.
According to the Immunization Section of the Family Welfare Division, many children and women living in outbreak-affected areas have been vaccinated, but men working outside their home districts or abroad have often missed vaccination. They could face a risk of infection when they return home for the festivals.
Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Child Health and Immunization Service Section, said people who had missed vaccination in affected districts should remain cautious when returning home for Dashain.
“Those who missed vaccination in districts affected by outbreaks are returning home for Dashain. They remain at risk of infection,” he said.
9 people die from Japanese Encephalitis in this season
Vaccination campaigns have been conducted in all local levels of Jhapa and three local levels of Kailali—Lamkichuha, Ghodaghodi and Dhangadhi—where outbreaks were reported this year. People who missed the Japanese encephalitis vaccine can contact their nearest health facility to receive it free of charge.
“Getting vaccinated as soon as they reach home would be appropriate,” Gautam said.
The risk also remains in other Tarai and inner-Tarai districts, he said, urging people to take precautions in all districts of Madhesh Province, as well as Chitwan, Morang, Sunsari, Banke, Bardiya, Kanchanpur, Rupandehi, Dang, Udayapur, Surkhet, Tanahun and Nawalpur.
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent Japanese encephalitis. Those who have not been vaccinated should contact a health facility, while people in areas without vaccination campaigns should protect themselves from mosquito bites.
Preventive measures include sleeping under mosquito nets, wearing clothes that cover the body and keeping duck and pig farms away from homes.
Gautam said no Japanese encephalitis cases had been reported in Nawalpur this year following a vaccination campaign conducted there last year, highlighting the importance of immunization.
Japanese encephalitis has killed 30 people in Nepal this year, with 133 cases confirmed. Last year, the disease claimed 41 lives.
The risk of infection is generally highest in August and September, while the infection rate has begun to decline toward mid-October, Gautam said. However, some infected patients remain hospitalized, and he advised people to remain cautious for at least another month.
