An epidemiologic review of Japanese Encephalitis with a special focus on incidence and methods of control for South Korea.

Ohrr, Hee choul; Lee, Sang Wook; Hong, Jae Seok

Review

Korean Journal of Epidemiology 2005;27(1): 69-80.

An epidemiologic review of Japanese Encephalitis with a special focus on incidence and methods of control for South Korea.

Hee choul Ohrr, Sang Wook Lee, Jae Seok Hong

¹Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine,Yonsei University. ohrr@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
²Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine,Kwandong University.
³Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University.

Abstract

Japanese encephalitis(JE) is the leading viral cause of encephalitis and disability in Asia. The disease primarily infects children under the age of 15, leaving up to 70% of these who develop illness either dead or with a long-term neurological disability. We reviewed not only JE disease burden, etiology, vector, mode of transmission, reservoir but also geographic distribution and incidence of the disease in Asia, with a focus on the South Korea. A special comment on the methods of control JE and perspective for South Korea also included.

Keywords: Japanese encephalitis; epidemiology; method of control; Asia