National Programme for Prevention and Control of Japanese Encephalitis (JE)/ Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) - An Update

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) is a condition, which is caused by multiple agents’ ranging from viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Some of the important agents which are reported from India are Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus, Enterovirus etc. There are many socio- demographic factors like malnutrition, poor sanitation etc. playing a vital role in the disease incidences and mortality. Since the first evidence of JE transmission in India in 1952 in district Vellore of Tamil Nadu, the disease has been reported from 171 districts of 19 states. Out of these, 60 districts of five states namely Assam, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal are contributing 90% of total disease burden in the country. To address the complexity of AES/ JE, which is causing high toll in terms of death and disability, Government of India has launched a national programme with multi-pronged strategy for the 60 districts of five high burdened states.