A total of six people in Taiwan have been confirmed as having contracted Japanese encephalitis this year, a potentially fatal mosquito-borne virus, according to the Department of Health yesterday.
"There are six confirmed cases of the disease so far this year, though other suspected cases are still under investigation," an official at the Center for Disease Control said.
The announcement followed the confirmation of the infection of a 78-year old man in Taipei, who had developed symptoms of the disease in mid-June, including fever and lethargy.
"It's the first case of Japanese encephalitis in Taipei since 1999, when two people were diagnosed with the disease," said Lai An-chi (
The other confirmed cases all occurred in central and southern Taiwan.
The victim from Taipei had returned from a trip to the south shortly before becoming sick.
In recent years, the disease has tended to affect more older people who, in contrast to many children, are not vaccinated against the virus.
"Taiwan has been vaccinating children against Japanese encephalitis since 1968," Lai said.
Japanese encephalitis is caused by a virus called the Flavivirus and can be transmitted from infected pigs to humans through mosquito bites. It exists in much of Asia, affecting mainly rural areas.
The disease, which is typically seen between May and October, can affect the central nervous system and in severe cases lead to death.
"Most infections are harmless with people only having symptoms of a common cold," said Dr Lee Ping-ying (
The fatality rate in such cases is 20 to 30 percent, Lee said.
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