The Viral Brain Infection Vaccine: Japanese Encephalitis in Streatham
Japanese Encephalitis is a viral infection of the brain. It’s caused by nighttime mosquitoes and can be found in areas throughout southeast Asia and the Pacific islands. The best way to prevent the injection is to have the JE vaccination, which is available at Westbury Chemist in Streatham.
Our travel clinic appointments are from 10:00 am – 17:00 pm Monday to Saturday
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What is Japanese Encephalitis and how is it spread?
JE is a viral brain infection that has no cure. It’s typically spread through mosquito bites. The virus is found in pigs and birds and then passed to mosquitoes when they bite. Japanese Encephalitis is spread when a mosquito bites an infected animal and then carries that over to human beings. Not all mosquitoes carry JE but it is found in the Culex species of mosquitoes.
As mosquitoes are a small species, it’s difficult to identify them. It is better to have the appropriate and correct prevention methods in place rather than taking a risk from an infection that is incurable. However, it is crucial to know that the virus is not transmittable from one human to another, thus an infected person does not need to isolate themselves.
Symptoms of the Japanese Encephalitis Infection
Most people never show symptoms at all when infected by the virus and some people have short-lived symptoms that according to the NHS are mistaken for the flu.
Being infected can become very dangerous very quickly. Infected people develop more severe symptoms than the ones listed below which results in the infection spreading to the brain. This is why it’s known as the infection of the brain. The infection to the brain happens in a span of 5 to 15 days after the infection.
Below is a list of symptoms you may experience if you’ve contracted the virus. It’s important to reach for medical attention right away if you have reason to believe that you have been infected with Japanese Encephalitis.
- Fever
- Stiff Neck
- Seizures
- Confusion
- Inability to speak
- Tremor (shaking of the body)
- Paralysis
- Muscle weakness
High-Risk Countries for Japanese Encephalitis
| China | Burma | Thailand | Vietnam |
| Cambodia | Laos | Nepal | India |
| Philippines | Sri Lanka | Malaysia | Indonesia |
Ironically, JE is quite rare in Japan despite the name of the infection. Japan in fact has a great immunisation programme to prevent Japanese Encephalitis.
Available treatments for JE
At present, there are no treatments available to help aid patients who have been infected with the Japanese Encephalitis virus. If you have been infected with JE then the best course of action is to rest, have plenty of fluids, pain killers and some medication that will help reduce the fever and relax some of the symptoms you’re experiencing.
In rare cases, people do have severe diseases and can die from Japanese Encephalitis.
Our advice from Westbury Chemist is to take the vaccination to prevent any kind of risks of the infections that come with the Culex species of mosquitoes.
What are the side effects of the vaccine?
As with most vaccinations, there are some mild side effects you could experience from taking the Japanese encephalitis vaccination. These are as follows:
- Soreness
- Redness
- Swelling at the injection site
- A headache
- Muscle pain
These symptoms are short-lived but the NHS has reported that 40% of people who take the vaccine do experience some if not all of these side effects to the vaccine.
Things to avoid when travelling to Japanese Encephalitis high-risk areas
To avoid bites and stings from mosquitoes you can follow this guide as a means of additional measures to take when travelling. Note that these are not replacements for the vaccination but they can support you better if you also keep this in mind.
- Cover exposed skin – being out at the prime time (sunrise or sunset) when the insects are out, you may be at risk of bites.
- Full cover shoes, avoid wearing sandals or flip flops in areas where insects are particularly the most active
- 50% DEET in your insect repellent – this is the most effective
- Avoid wearing strong scents
- Avoid hanging out near ponds or swamps – mosquitoes are commonly found near the water
- Hideaway sweet foods and drinks when outside, don’t leave cans or sweet foods exposed.
- Use netting
- As hot as it may be, keep doors and windows closed – used the provided AC if available instead to cool your room.
For more information on avoiding bites and stings when travelling, follow the NHS guide.
Neurological Complications of Contracting the JE Virus
For infected people who survive, the recovery process is extremely slow and can take several months to recover. 50% of the people that do survive the symptoms of Japanese encephalitis can face neurological complications such as permanent brain damage.
Furthermore, in the long-term, this can lead to additional problems such as paralysis in more than one area of the body, learning difficulties, muscle weakness and personality changes.
Visiting Westbury Chemist for your Japanese Encephalitis in Streatham
Westbury Chemist Streatham is now providing JE Jabs. We do not accept walk-in appointments. Please book your appointments online.
