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Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Resource Center

Japanese Encephalitis virus is a single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the Flavivirus genus, and is closely related to West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis viruses.

JE virus is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis in Asia and the western Pacific. For most travelers to Asia, the risk for JE is very low but varies based on destination, duration of travel, season, and activities. JE virus is maintained in a cycle involving mosquitoes and vertebrate hosts, mainly pigs and wading birds.  Humans can be infected when bitten by an infected mosquito. Most human infections are asymptomatic or result in only mild symptoms, with an average incubation period of 5-15 days. A small percentage of infected persons develop inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), with symptoms including sudden onset of headache, high fever, disorientation, coma, tremors and convulsions. About 1 in 4 cases are fatal.

There is no specific treatment for JE. Patient management focuses on supportive care and management of complications. Steps to prevent JE include using personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites and vaccination.

Japanese Encephalitis Vero Cell vaccine is an inactivated vaccine product, trade named IXIARO®. Currently, this is the only FDA-licensed vaccine for JE prevention available in the United States. IXIARO® is a sterile purified vero cell-culture-derived vaccine, available in single-dose, pre-filled syringes.

JE vaccine is recommended for travelers who plan to spend 1 month or more in endemic areas during the JE virus transmission season. This includes long-term travelers, recurrent travelers, or expatriates who will be based in urban areas but are likely to visit endemic rural or agricultural areas during a high-risk period of JE virus transmission.

Vaccine should also be considered for the following:  

  • Short-term (less than1 month) travelers to endemic areas during the transmission season, if they plan to travel outside an urban area and their activities will increase the risk of JE virus exposure. Examples of higher-risk activities or itineraries include:  1) spending substantial time outdoors in rural or agricultural areas, especially during the evening or night;  2) participating in extensive outdoor activities (such as camping, hiking, trekking, biking, fishing, hunting, or farming); and 3) staying in accommodations without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets. 
  • Travelers to an area with an ongoing JE outbreak.
  • Travelers to endemic areas who are uncertain of specific destinations, activities, or duration of travel.

JE vaccine is not recommended for short-term travelers whose visits will be restricted to urban areas or times outside a well-defined JE virus transmission season.

Resource Center

You will find below all of the resources you will need about the Japanese encephalitis vaccine. More will be added as they are published or released.

Information Paper Date
Japanese Encephalitis and Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Sept. 21, 2022
Standing Orders Date
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine (Pediatric)
June 2022
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine (Adult)
June 2022
Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) Date
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Aug. 15, 2019
Manufacturer Package Inserts Date
Ixiaro
Oct. 4, 2018
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Recommendations Date
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine
July 19, 2019

You also may be interested in...

Japanese Encephalitis and Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine

Fact Sheet
9/21/2022

This information paper describes Japanese Encephalitis Virus and the vaccine to prevent it.

U.S. Army Special Operations Command Supplement 1 to Immunizations and Chemoprophylaxis for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases

Policy

MMQC-19-2009 Japanese Encephalitis Vero Cell (JE-VC) Vaccine Resume Unrestricted Ordering

Publication
6/6/2019

Sufficient quantities of Japanese Encephalitis vaccine are available for all facilities to once again begin unrestricted ordering.

BUMED Memo 6000: Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine

Policy

Japanese Encephalitis Surveillance and Immunization — Asia and Western Pacific Regions, 2016

Report
6/9/2017

A review of surveillance and immunization program data in the 24 countries with JE virus transmission risk found that in 2016, 22 countries conducted at least some surveillance for JE, and 12 had implemented a JE immunization program.

COMPACFLT Guidance on the Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine for U.S. Navy Personnel and TRICARE beneficiaries in the Pacific Fleet Area of Responsibility

Policy

Guidance on the Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine for US Army Personnel in the Pacific Area of Responsibility (Expired 1 DEC 17)

Policy

Guidance on the Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine for US Army Personnel in the Pacific Area of Responsibility

Guidance on the use of Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine AF 0115

Policy

Guidance on the use of Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine AF 0613

Policy

Guidance on the use of Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine

Policy

Department of Defense Participation in IXIARO Post Licensure Requirements

Policy

Department of Defense Participation in IXIARO Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Post-Licensure Requirements

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Last Updated: May 08, 2023
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