Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis is caused by infection by a virus of the Flavivirus family, similar to those that cause dengue fever and yellow fever. It is spread between birds, animals and man by the Culex mosquito, and it attacks the central nervous system causing fever, headache, convulsions and coma. The disease can be prevented by the use of a vaccine in people travelling to areas where the disease is widespread (it is not, despite its name, confined to Japan, and since it is spreading the best thing for travellers to do is take up-to-date advice). As with other diseases spread by mosquitoes (see malaria in this section) a major source of prevention is to prevent the insect biting in the first place.
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