Japanese Encephalitis finds a new target: adults

[Ronan Kelly]

Japanese Encephalitis finds a new target: adults
Posted: Thu Dec 02 2010, 04:17 hrs
Lucknow: Traditionally regarded as a disease of children, it is spreading among 25 to 40-year-olds


The increasing number of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases among adults has become a cause of concern for health experts in the country. The cases are being reported from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and some other states in the north-east.


JE has traditionally been regarded as a disease of the children and before mid-2009, the proportion of adults among JE patients rarely exceeded 2 per cent.


Assam first reported a big jump last year ? as many as 70 per cent of patients were above 15 years old. In UP too, the number of adult patients has been increasing since last year, although it has not yet reached the proportions it has acquired in Assam.


While counting JE cases, anyone above 15 is considered an adult, but the new patients, at least in UP, are mostly between 25 and 40 years old.

...
continues at; http://www.indianexpress.com/news/japanese-encephalitis-finds-a-new-target-adults/719044/0

 

[alert]

Re: Japanese Encephalitis finds a new target: adults

From the above article, confirming that this really is JE, not another AES virus:

Regarding the situation in UP, Dr KP Kushwaha, Head of Pediatrics Department at Gorakhpur?s BRD Medical College, said: ?It is true that in our record, we have noticed this trend that the number of JE as well as Acute Encephalitis Syndrome cases among adults is increasing since last year. About 700 AES cases have been reported among adults this year ? of these around 100 were JE.?

 

[Shiloh]

Encephalitis affecting adults too

Encephalitis affecting adults too

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-affecting-adults-too/articleshow/7056233.cms

Encephalitis affecting adults too
TNN, Dec 7, 2010, 05.29am IST

LUCKNOW: Recent indications suggest taking a new look to the viral disease of Japanese Encephalitis (JE). Traditionally regarded as a disease of children, JE is now affecting adults in the age group of 25 and 40 years. The said trend has already registered its presence in UP, Bihar, Assam and several north-eastern states.

Experts point out that the proportion of adults among JE patients rarely crossed the two per cent mark. Officials in health ministry shared that they were aware of the trend and may consider extending the JE vaccination drive to adults in certain areas. To note, three years ago, Nepal had undertaken JE vaccination of adults.

Officials in UP's health department claim the situation is not as alarming as it is in some of the other states especially Assam...


Read more: Encephalitis affecting adults too - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...lts-too/articleshow/7056233.cms#ixzz17OX5htJ4