As a preventive measure for Japanese Encephalitis (JE) infection, the Ministry of Health will be providing immunization service for JE in stages in Belait district, prioritizing in the areas where clusters of cases (hotspots) have been identified, particularly in Mukim Kuala Belait and Mukim Sungai Liang, according to a press release on Friday.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that six additional cases of JE infection have been confirmed through laboratory tests. This has brought the total of confirmed cases to 15 cases which 14 cases in the Belait District and one case in the Brunei-Muara District. From the 15 cases, 12 have recovered and discharged home whilst three are still receiving intensive care treatment in the hospital. Clinical investigations have shown that these patients are also suffering from a number of chronic diseases.

To control the risk of more serious complications among children, priority is being given to children aged nine months to 15 years. The vaccine should not be given to infants under the age of nine months.

In Mukim Kuala Belait, vaccination for children aged nine months to five years may be obtained at the Belait District Health Centre (Maternal and Child Health Service) whilst children aged six to 15 years may obtain their vaccination at Vaccination Centre, Belait District Health Office, Jalan Pandan Satu. In Mukim Sungai Liang, the vaccination may be obtained at the Sungai Liang Health Centre. The JE vaccination service will be made available at the specified centre from Nov 18, Monday.

JE infection is currently under control according to the Ministry of Health. The ministry will however continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures including informing the public of any developments. Anyone with any of the above symptoms are advised to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health centre or hospital.

JE infection is one of mosquito-borne diseases transmitted especially through Culex mosquitoes, it is not transmitted from human to human. In a small proportion of cases, JE infection can cause symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. After a few days, the infection can also affect mental status, cause neurological symptoms, weakness and movement disturbances. Convulsions can also occur especially among children.

Everyone especially the public is once again advised to be responsible and carry preventive measures. The preventive measures are destroying mosquito breeding places and spending 10-30 minutes as frequently as possible, at least once a week, to inspect the compound of their residences or buildings to ensure that the environment is free from mosquito breeding, ensuring that all drains and waterways are clean, functioning well and unblocked, leveling land surfaces that can pool water or fill them up with soil or sand, wearing long-sleeved clothing and long pants as well as avoiding dark coloured clothing as this will attract mosquitoes, using insecticide aerosols, mosquito coils or mosquito repellant plates and using insect repellant especially for outdoor activities, if necessary.