Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines for Travelers

Licensing of a new tissue culture–derived vaccine for adults prompted the CDC to update their vaccine recommendations.

Target Population: Practitioners who provide travel-related services

Sponsoring Organization: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC

Type: Consensus based on published material and expert opinion

Key Points: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is caused by a mosquito-borne flavivirus and is endemic in Asia. There, it is the most common type of vaccine-preventable encephalitis, with 35,000 to 50,000 cases occurring annually. JE has a high case fatality rate (20%–30%) and major neurological sequelae in survivors.

Risk for JE is generally very low among individuals who travel to Asia (<1 case per 1 million travelers), but it varies according to the traveler's destination, season of travel, duration of stay, and activities pursued. Risk is …

Reviewing Author

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter