“Japanese encephalitis [JE] is endemic in the entire Philippines and we do not have a JE outbreak in Region III.”
Dr. Kohei Toda, WHO Philippines Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Medical Officer, emphasized these key points during Department of Health Region III’s Regional Advocacy Forum on Japanese Encephalitis held in Clark, Pampanga last 29 September 2017.
DOH Region III
“What we see as an increase in cases is due to very sensitive surveillance and reporting. That’s why we really appreciate the hard work of Region III in strengthening the monitoring of suspected JE cases,” Dr. Toda added.
JE is a mosquito-borne viral disease which causes brain infection. Recently, reports of JE cases resulted to heightened public concern especially in Region III, which so far recorded the highest number of JE cases in 2017.
The advocacy forum provided a venue for sharing correct information and for addressing public concern on JE. Over 500 representatives from the health sector, government agencies, media, and local government units in Region III attended the event. Dr. Toda and Jun Ryan Orbina, WHO Philippines EPI Communications Officer, were among the resource persons in the forum.
Dr. Toda also highlighted that vaccination remains as the best preventive measure against the JE. Dr. Wilda Silva, National Immunization Program Manager, also explained DOH’s plan to include the JE vaccine in routine childhood immunization by 2018.
WHO continues to work closely with DOH in its plan for JE vaccine introduction. Refer to the WHO fact sheet for more information on JE.