Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Cost-Benefit Analysis: Is the Pain Worth the Gain for U.S. Armend Forces Active Duty Dependents Living on Okinawa, Japan?
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis (JE) is an arboviral disease of major public health importance in Asia, causing approximately 40,000 clinical cases each year. JE infection leads to a viral encephalitis in approximately 1 in 200 infections. Incidence rates of clinical infection range from 1 to 10 per 10,000 persons in areas where JE is endemic. Fatalities approach 25% and residual neurologic sequelae in 30% of cases. Culex mosquitoes, primarily Culex tritaemorhynchus, transmit the virus from viremic animals, mostly domesticated pigs and Ardeid birds (Herons/Egrets), to humans in a seasonal pattern. Drug treatment does not exist, and thus vector control and immunization are currently used as main control measures. Japanese encephalitis may result in a febrile illness with neurological symptoms ranging from headache to meningitis or encephalitis. Symptoms can include: headache, fever, meningeal signs, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, paresis, hypertonia, and loss of coordination. The encephalitis cannot be clinically distinguished from other central nervous system infections. Etiological diagnosis of JE is mainly based on serological testing, using IgM-capture ELISA, which detects specific IgM in CSF or in the blood of almost patients within 4-7 days of onset of disease.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA407532
Entities
People
- Scott A. Hartwich
Organizations
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston