Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination Drive Intensifies in Nepal Amidst Rising Concerns
Nawalparasi East, Nepal – A critical vaccination campaign targeting Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is underway in Nawalparasi East, with over 70 percent of the population aged 35 and above having received their inoculations. This concerted effort comes in response to a concerning surge in JE cases, which has resulted in at least six fatalities and over a dozen infections in the district since mid-July 2025.
The vaccination initiative is a key component of the preventive measures being implemented by health authorities to mitigate deaths and long-term disabilities associated with the JE virus.
“The vaccination commenced approximately ten days ago and is scheduled to continue until Tuesday,” stated Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, Chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “Our objective is to curb the JE outbreak in Nawalparasi East in the coming years, building upon the successful vaccination of the previously unvaccinated demographic.”
Understanding Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese Encephalitis is a serious viral infection of the brain, prevalent across Asia and certain regions of the Western Pacific. As classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, sharing kinship with other well-known viruses such as dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and West Nile virus. The severity of JE is underscored by WHO data indicating that approximately one-third of infected individuals succumb to the illness, and up to half of those who survive are left with profound, lifelong disabilities.
The impact of JE in Nepal has been significant. Since June of the previous year, the nation has recorded a total of 35 deaths and over 175 infections, with the virus spreading across 117 local administrative units spanning 45 districts. In 2024 alone, Nepal reported 23 JE-related fatalities, including one case in the Kathmandu Valley, alongside more than 80 infections.
In the current fiscal year, Nawalparasi East has been particularly hard-hit, with 15 individuals contracting the virus and six succumbing to its severe manifestations.
Targeted Vaccination and Resource Constraints
The vaccination programme in Nawalparasi East is being funded entirely from the government’s own budgetary allocations. The district was strategically chosen due to its alarmingly high rates of JE infection and mortality. The initial goal was to inoculate over 150,000 individuals aged 35 and above. However, as of Saturday, a total of 108,734 people had been vaccinated.
Dr. Gautam expressed concern over the limitations faced in broader vaccination efforts. “Had we been equipped to vaccinate the vulnerable populations in other districts, we could have undoubtedly saved more lives and averted considerable health consequences,” he commented. “However, we are facing a scarcity of vaccine doses to extend this protection to other affected areas.”
Health officials have reportedly engaged with development partners, including the WHO, in an attempt to secure support for a comprehensive national JE vaccination campaign. These appeals, however, have not yet yielded the desired success, leading to the current reliance on domestic funding for the Nawalparasi East initiative.
The Unvaccinated: A High-Risk Group
Data strongly indicate a direct correlation between vaccination status and the severity of JE infection. The unvaccinated population exhibits significantly higher rates of both severe illness and mortality. Statistics reveal that a staggering 76 percent of JE-related deaths have occurred among individuals over 40 years of age who had not received the vaccine.
A Long History of JE Prevention in Nepal
Nepal has a history of administering the JE vaccine through its routine immunisation programme for the past two decades. Prior to its integration into the regular schedule, all children under 15 years of age had already been vaccinated.
Experts caution that the reported case numbers may represent only a fraction of the actual burden of the disease, as diagnostic testing is often reserved for hospitalised patients presenting with severe symptoms. The neurological damage that can result from JE infection can lead to permanent brain and nervous system injuries. Currently, there is no specific cure for JE; treatment focuses on managing symptoms. Nevertheless, the availability of safe and effective vaccines offers a crucial means of prevention.
The historical toll of JE in Nepal is stark. In 2005, the virus was responsible for the deaths of nearly 2,000 people, predominantly children residing in the southern plains. Nepal commenced its JE vaccination efforts in 2006, eight years before the WHO granted prequalification certification for the vaccine, a testament to the urgent need driven by high infection and fatality rates at the time.
The initial phase of the vaccination programme targeted the entire populations of four highly affected districts: Banke, Bardiya, Dang, and Kailali. Subsequently, the initiative was expanded to encompass 19 additional affected districts, with a primary focus on children under 15.
The government officially integrated the JE vaccine into its routine immunisation schedule in 2015. Despite these ongoing efforts, JE continues to claim lives and infect dozens of individuals annually.
Transmission and Risk Factors
The JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes. Pigs and ducks are identified as the primary natural reservoirs for the virus. It is estimated that approximately 12.5 million people in Nepal are considered to be at high risk of contracting Japanese Encephalitis.
