Should I get vaccinated?
Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection that affects the brain.
It’s spread by mosquitoes and exists in many parts of Asia, and – very occasionally – in far north Australia.
The vaccine is recommended for some people travelling to places where the disease is common, such as Papua New Guinea and rural areas south-east Asia. Particularly if you’ll be in that area for a month or longer.
Book a Japanese encephalitis vaccination
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How do I get vaccinated?
The vaccine is given as two separate shots with 1–4 weeks in between the two. You can get the jab to protect you against the Japanese encephalitis virus when you’re getting other travel vaccines. You might need a booster if you travel to high-risk areas a few years after your first vaccination.
Side effects of the vaccine are very rare and usually mild.
We can also help you with other travel vaccinations and travel health advice, including mosquito repellents and antimalarials.
Disease facts
The disease is caused by a virus that is transferred to people when they are bitten by an infected mosquito. It is not passed from person to person.
It’s not that common, and most cases occur in rural areas of south-east Asia, during or immediately after wet season when there is lots of standing water available for mosquitoes to breed.
Japanese encephalitis symptoms
In most cases, people infected with the virus do not have any symptoms.
However, some people develop brain and nervous system symptoms and other symptoms such as:
- fever, shivering and chills
- headache
- a stiff neck
- altered consciousness, such as confusion, delirium or unconsciousness
- seizures
- paralysis of one side of the body.
The disease can also be fatal.
Preventing disease
It is always important to minimise your risk of being bitten by mosquitoes by:
- using insect repellent that contains at least 30% DEET
- covering as much skin as possible by wearing light coloured, loose fitting clothing with long sleeves and long pants
- treating your clothes with mosquito repellent
- avoiding going outside or having doors and windows open at dawn and dusk
- sleeping in a mosquito net (preferably treated with repellent) or a closed room and spraying an insecticide before going to bed.
