Out of 133 patients diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis so far this 2017, nine have died, according to the Department of Health.
Four of those who succumbed to the mosquito-borne disease were from Pampanga, while two were from Zambales. The provinces of Pangasinan, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija reported one fatality each.
Japanese encephalitis has no known cure. It is transmitted by the Culex mosquito. Symptoms include headache, vomiting, fever, and difficulty in movement. DOH Undersecretary Gerard Bayugo told ABS-CBN news that less than one percent of those bitten by Culex mosquitoes are infected with the disease. He also clarified that some patients are able to fight the virus and helps develop antibodies to protect against future infection.
Photo from: wikimedia commons
It’s important, however, for the public to be prepared, but not to be alarmed as the number of fatalities is still fairly low.
The Department of Health plans to officially include it in their immunization program, as one of the publicly mandated vaccines, in the first half of 2018.
photo: shutterstock
“We’ve been having cases of Japanese encephalitis for so long, but more cases came out because we are doing surveillance,” Health secretary Ubial said in a previous interview.
Japanese encephalitis vaccines are currently out of stock, but once a fresh batch arrives, it will commercially available again for P3,500 to P5,000 each.
source: ABS-CBN news, Inquirer.net
READ: Japanese encephalitis vaccine now routine for children in the Philippines