Mozzie experts are urging Bali tourists to be proactive when travelling.
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Following a recent spike in cases of a potentially deadly mosquito-borne brain disease in Bali, a CQUni expert said holidaymakers should consider proactive measures before cancelling.
CQUniversity’s resident mosquito and infectious disease expert Professor Andrew Taylor-Robinson said while the mosquito-borne disease known as Japanese encephalitis (JE) could potentially be fatal, that scenario is rare.
According to professor Taylor-Robinson, JE is a disease caused by a virus that belongs to the same arbovirus family as the more well-known dengue, yellow fever and Zika viruses.
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He said that while the disease is transmitted to animals, and occasionally humans, by the bite of infectious Culex mosquitoes, there is no evidence of person to person spread.
“It should be stressed that, just like Zika, the great majority of infections in humans are asymptomatic or very mild,” professor Taylor-Robinson said.
“If you do get bitten, the tell-tale sign of a symptomatic infection is the combination of a fever and headache.
“This is associated with a mild form of meningitis, a condition that causes the tissues covering your brain and spinal cord to become inflamed.
“While this sounds pretty nasty, most people make a complete and uneventful recovery within two weeks of the onset of symptoms.
“Rarely, however, about one in 250 JE infections cause severe brain swelling, encephalitis, with a sudden headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, paralysis and convulsions.
“In this scenario, it can lead to coma and/or death – the current fatality rate in patients with severe cases is around one quarter. Of those who survive, a third are left with permanent neurological damage.”
As of yet there is no specific treatment for JE except for management of the symptoms.
While JE has the potential to be deadly, evidence suggests that contracting the disease is usually considered very low for most travellers to Indonesia, and surrounding South East Asian countries.
“The good news is that, unlike dengue and Zika, there is a preventative vaccine for JE. Three injections are required over a one-month period, giving you protection for about three years.”
If you are planning a trip to Bali, or South East Asia, and are concerned about JE, Professor Taylor-Robinson suggested a visit to the local GP or travel medicine clinic, to be vaccinated.
“As with all viral infections carried by biting mosquitoes, prevention is better than cure,” professor Taylor-Robinson said.
“So, in order to reduce your chances of providing a tasty snack for a hungry mozzie, the standard personal precautions should be taken – apply insect repellent, cover exposed limbs with loose-fitting clothing and avoid areas where mosquitoes lurk.”
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