Epidemiology of Japanese Encephalitis. Prospects for Prevention. (Reannouncementwith New Availability Information)

摘要

In Japan, minor epidemics of summer encephalitis, presumed to be due in largepart to Japanese encephalitis, were recorded every year between 1873 and 1968. Major epidemics occurred in 1924, 1935, and 1948 (1). Japanese encephalitis is now recognized throughout much of Asia and is considered the most important mosquito-borne viral encephalitis, with an estimated worldwide incidence of 45,000 cases each year primarily in children. Approximately 25 percent of cases die and 50 percent develop permanent neurologic and psychiatric sequelae (2). The magnitude of the problem is even more impressive when it is considered that the disease often occurs in epidemics that are somewhat predictable and that Japanese encephalitis is a vaccine preventable disease.