Japanese encephalitis in travelers: review of cases and seasonal risk.

© 2009 International Society of Travel Medicine, 1195-1982 Journal of Travel Medicine 2009; Volume 16 (Issue 3): 217–219 J encephalitis (JE) is a leading cause of viral meningoencephalitis transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes in large parts of Asia. Travelers are at risk for JE, the main risk factors being outdoor evening and nighttime exposure in rural areas during the transmission period. Among travelers and expatriates visiting Asia since 1992, an increasing number, also after short-term visit, has contracted JE. 1 – 4 This increase has coincided with a huge expansion of tourism to endemic areas in Southeast Asia (SEA) during this period. Of the survivors, more than half experience neurological sequelae. The aim of this review was to describe and summarize published and anecdotal non indexed reports of cases of JE among travelers, with a special emphasis on travelers from Scandinavian countries.