Trends in Flavivirus Infections in Japan

Abstract and Introduction

Although Japanese encephalitis has declined as an important cause of illness and death in Japan, infection with other flaviviruses has become a public health concern. Recently, reports of imported dengue cases, as well as isolations of tick-borne encephalitis virus, have increased.

The family Flaviviridae consists of approximately 70 viruses, nearly 40 of which cause human disease^[1]. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was an important cause of illness and death in Japan for many years, with >1,000 Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases reported annually in the late 1960s. The number of JE cases has decreased dramatically, and fewer than 10 cases have been reported annually since 1992^[2]. Infection by other flaviviruses, including an increase in imported dengue cases and isolations of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus, is becoming a public health threat.

Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2000;6(6) © 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Cite this: Trends in Flavivirus Infections in Japan - Medscape - Nov 01, 2000.