JE is surging and killing people, but Nepal has no vaccine
Summary
Since June, 31 people have died and 133 have been infected with Japanese encephalitis in Nepal, with the highest cases in recent years amid vaccine unavailability.
Key Points
- Since June, 31 people have died and 133 others have been infected with Japanese encephalitis in Nepal.
- 74 percent of JE deaths were individuals over 40 years old, highlighting risks to the unvaccinated population.
- 110 local units across all seven provinces have reported JE infections and deaths this year, with Lumbini province most affected.
- Despite efforts, Nepal currently has no available JE vaccine to conduct mass vaccination campaigns to prevent severe cases and deaths.
