Shot vs. Japanese encephalitis during rainy season not recommended by DOH

Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag on Wednesday said that the vaccine for the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis is commercially available, but discouraged getting the shot during the rainy season.

"Hindi ho namin nirerekomenda sapagkat hindi po pangkaraniwang binibigay ang bakuna, commercially available po sa ngayon," Tayag said in an interview on News To Go on Wednesday.

"Sa panahon na kung saan tumataas po yung kaso, sayang lang po ang pagpapabakuna. Ginagawa po ang pagpapabakuna bago pa po ang tag-ulan," Tayag continued.

The Department of Health (DOH) said in a statement that the vaccine will be introduced to young children in 2018 as soon as data confirms its efficacy.

It will be introduced during the off-peak season for the disease.

Tayag said that for the meantime, caution must be taken to prevent the spread of the disease, which has been in the Philippines since the 1950s.

"Ang tagubilin ng ating kalihim, Secretary [Paulyn] Ubial, na ang pangunahing panlaban po natin diyan ay kontra sa mga lamok," Tayag said.

He clarified that it is the Culex species of mosquitoes carries Japanese encephalitis, not the Aedes aegypti that carries dengue, chikungunya, Zika fever, Mayaro and yellow fever viruses.

"Ang karaniwan, ang mga lamok na ito ay natatagpuan doon po kung saan mayroong pinagtatamnan ng palay sapagkat sa mababaw na tubig po sila naglalagak ng itlog nila," he said.

The DOH's Epidemiology Bureau has recorded 133 laboratory-confirmed Japanese encephalitis cases all over the country from January to August 26.

It said that provinces in Central Luzon -- Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales -- are considered hotspots for the disease and closely monitored.

The DOH said Japanese encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that causes "fever, chills, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and in severe cases, neck stiffness, seizures, paralysis, and coma, which may lead to death."

It said symptoms usually do not manifest until five to 15 days after being bitten by a mosquito and the disease itself does not have a known cure.

Those able to recover from the disease may still show signs of "neurologic complications such as paralysis, recurrent seizures or inability to speak."

Meanwhile, Ubial urged the public to intensify efforts to prevent and control mosquito populations and adhere to the 4S method.

4S stands for Search and destroy mosquito breeding places, use Self-protection measures, Seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days, and Say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak.

"When we get sick or our children develop fever for two days or flu-like symptoms, seek immediate consultation at the nearest health facilities. Let us avoid unnecessary and indiscriminate fogging activities," Ubial said. —Rie Takumi/ALG/BM, GMA News