Travel warning for Japanese encephalitis

ATLANTA, March 10 (UPI) -- U.S. healthcare providers should advise travelers to Japanese encephalitis-endemic countries of the risk of the virus, federal health officials say.

The report published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, released Thursday, describes two cases of Japanese encephalitis that were reported to the CDC last year.

"Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne disease that occurs in Asia and the western Pacific region and cases among people who have traveled or lived overseas are infrequently diagnosed in the United States, but the disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis in a patient with an acute neurological infection who has recently returned from a Japanese encephalitis-endemic country," the report says.

"Although uncommon in travelers, the disease can be serious and U.S. healthcare providers should advise travelers about the importance of personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites."

In addition, the Japanese encephalitis vaccine should be considered for some travelers who will be in a high-risk setting, health officials advise.