A 12-year-old boy from Phuc Tho district in Hanoi was reported to have the first case of Japanese encephalitis in the city this year. On June 16, the child began experiencing symptoms of high fever and headache, followed by a stiff neck and difficulty walking on June 17. His family took him to the National Children’s Hospital where tests confirmed the presence of the Japanese encephalitis virus in his cerebrospinal fluid. Despite having received four shots of the Japanese encephalitis vaccine, with the last one administered just a day before his symptoms began, the boy still contracted the disease.
Japanese encephalitis is a serious illness that can result in encephalitis and meningitis in children. Transmitted by Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes in Vietnam, these mosquitoes are most active at dusk and breed strongly during the summer months. The disease can be difficult to detect early on as its symptoms are similar to other infections, but may progress rapidly to include seizures, coma, and death within a short period of time if left untreated.
Vaccination is key to preventing Japanese encephalitis. The Ministry of Health recommends a series of three basic doses starting at one year old and continuing until age 15. It is important to note that vaccination should be repeated every three to four years to ensure continued protection against this serious disease. Early detection and vaccination are crucial in combating this deadly illness and preventing its severe consequences on both an individual and public health level.