Japanese encephalitis (JE), a viral disease spread by mosquitoes, claimed four lives in the province of Iloilo this year, according to the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
Two of the deaths were reported in Barangay Lapayon, Leganes, and one each in Barangay Cabilauan, Barotac Nuevo and in Barangay Dela Peña, Barotac Viejo.
From January 1 to June 3, PHO recorded 14 laboratory-confirmed cases of JE, including the four fatalities.
“This is rare but the case fatality rate of JE is very high as much as 30 percent. There were cases of permanent psychiatric complications that usually happen to 30 to 50 percent of those who survived,” said PHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon.
Of the total cases, nine were 4 to 10 years old, two each belonged to the 11-2 and 21-30 age groups, and one was below 1 year old.
Majority or 11 of the cases were males and three were females.
Quiñon said there is no approved medicines for JE and vaccines against the disease are only given to areas where it is endemic.
“Our management is focused on how to relieve clinical signs and symptoms and extend support for the patient to overcome the infection. It can be prevented through vaccination, which by the way is not available in Iloilo province.”
Accoding to the Department of Health (DOH), the JE virus is “transmitted to humans through the bite of Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes.”
These encephalitis-causing mosquitos are “active during the day and night” and are “common in rural areas with, among others, rice paddies, piggeries, irrigation ditches, ground pools.”
Symptoms of JE include fever and chills, headache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and tiredness. “In severe cases, it may progress to inflammation of the brain and seizures, paralysis and even comatose which may lead to death.”IMT
