Palace asks public to be alert vs Japanese encephalitis

September 13, 2017

Malacanang urged on Wednesday local government units and the public to be alert against Japanese encephalitis, especially during this rainy season.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella assured the public that the government is closely monitoring cases of Japanese encephalitis with the onset of the rainy season when transmission of the virus peaks because there are more mosquitos.

"We encourage the local government units to report and notify suspect cases of Japanese encephalitis," Abela said.

Prevention of Japanese encephalitis, like dengue, focuses on the identification and destruction of breeding places of mosquitoes as the Department of Health (DOH) is  firming up plans to introduce vaccination among young children in 2018, he added.

According to the DOH, there was no outbreak of the virus this year.  Nine persons have died from Japanese encephalitis, lower than the 13 recorded during the same period last year. Celerina Monte/DMS