THE Department of Health (DOH) in the Cordilleras has recorded eight confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis in the region this year.
DOH-Cordillera Medical Officer Dr. Alexis Marrero said that of the eight cases, two came from Benguet, one from Baguio City while the remaining five cases came from outside the Cordillera region who were all admitted in the hospital.
Japanese encephalitis is an infection of the brain caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus. While most infections result in little or no symptoms, occasional inflammation of the brain occurs.
Symptoms include headache, vomiting, fever, confusion and seizures which occurs about 5 to 15 days after infection. The disease was first described in 1871.
Based on the 2015-2017 records of DOH-Cordillera, it listed 75 confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis in the region with 12 cases coming from Benguet, eight from Baguio City, three in Kalinga and Mountain Province, two in Abra and Ifugao while the remaining 45 cases come from outside the Cordillera region.
Japanese encephalitis are believed to be caused by mosquitoes, particularly those of the culex type. Pigs and wild birds serve as a reservoir for the virus.
The disease mostly occurs outside of cities while diagnosis is based on blood or cerebrospinal fluid testing.
Japanese encephalitis can be prevented thru vaccine.
Records from the World Health Organization said about 68,000 symptomatic cases occur a year with about 17,000 deaths.