Media interaction on JE held

Lalitpur, Bagmati province - WHO Nepal, in collaboration with Health Journalists Forum-Nepal, organized an interaction meeting with journalists on Japanese Encephalitis (JE) to strengthen JE public awareness and prevention efforts. JE is a mosquito-borne viral disease that can cause severe brain inflammation, long-term disability, or death, especially among children. The session briefed journalists on Nepal’s current JE situation, key preventive measures and the vital role of media in promoting vaccination and delivering accurate JE-related information. Participants underscored the power of sustained media engagement in promoting JE vaccination, encouraging health-seeking behavior and mobilizing communities toward JE prevention. WHO continues to support the Ministry of Health and Population in JE vaccination and laboratory-supported acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) surveillance to detect JE. With national JE vaccination coverage surpassing 95%, WHO also provides technical assistance for field monitoring and reaching unvaccinated children to ensure no one is left behind, while further contributing to enhanced AES surveillance, laboratory capacity and case reporting systems.