Japanese encephalitis virus not only found in pigs

IN the light of the recent outbreak of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in Kedah (“Two fatal cases of JE infection in Kota Setar district, says Kedah Health director”, The Star, Nov 29; online at bit.ly/star_je), I would like to share some technical information gathered retrospectively which could be useful for the control of the virus. I previously worked with the herd health section in the Department of Veterinary Services Penang.

During an incident of human JE cases in Batu Maung, Penang, in 1988 involving pig farmhands, I collaborated with Prof Dr Jane Cardosa of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak to carry out a JE prevalence survey among different livestock, including pigs, in Penang.