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Northfields Travel Clinic

Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine in Ealing

Protect yourself before travelling. Book your Japanese Encephalitis vaccine at Northfields Travel Clinic, delivered at Bramley Pharmacy (Ealing, W5).

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a serious viral infection that causes inflammation of the brain. It is spread by mosquitoes found in parts of Asia and the Western Pacific. Although rare in travellers, the infection can cause permanent neurological damage or be fatal.

The risk is highest in rural areas where rice fields, marshes and pig farming are common — but cases have also been reported on the outskirts of cities.

To check the risk in your specific destination, visit NaTHNaC:
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/31/japanese-encephalitis

Northfields Travel Clinic, based at Bramley Pharmacy, provides the Ixiaro® Japanese Encephalitis vaccine for adults and children.

How Japanese Encephalitis Is Spread

JE is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes that:

  • Feed mainly from dusk to dawn

  • Thrive in rural, agricultural and wetland areas

  • Breed in rice paddies, floodwater and irrigation systems

  • Are common in areas with pig farming (pigs are amplifying hosts)

JE occurs in:

  • South Asia (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka)

  • Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia)

  • China & Taiwan

  • Japan

  • Papua New Guinea

  • Pacific islands

Urban transmission is uncommon, but mosquitoes can still be found in some city outskirts.

How Common Is Japanese Encephalitis in Travellers?

The overall risk for short-term travellers is very low — estimated at less than 1 case per 1 million travellers.

However, risk increases if you:

  • Spend extended periods in rural or agricultural settings

  • Visit during the monsoon or peak transmission seasons

  • Go trekking, cycling, backpacking or camping

  • Engage in outdoor evening or night-time activities

  • Stay with local families in rural areas

  • Work in labs handling JE virus

Even short trips can carry risk if they involve significant rural exposure.

Symptoms of Japanese Encephalitis

Most infections cause no symptoms.

In symptomatic cases, early symptoms include:

  • Fever

  • Headache

  • Tiredness

  • Nausea or vomiting

Severe illness can progress to:

  • Confusion

  • Seizures

  • Coma

  • Paralysis

Outcomes

  • Hospitalised cases have a high mortality rate (up to 30%)

  • Up to half of survivors experience long-term neurological complications

  • There is no specific antiviral treatment

Reducing Your Risk While Travelling

Even with vaccination, travellers should practise mosquito bite avoidance between dusk and dawn:

  • Use 30–50% DEET or similar repellents

  • Wear long sleeves and trousers in the evenings

  • Sleep in screened or air-conditioned rooms

  • Use bed nets where needed

  • Avoid staying near rice fields, marshland or pig farms

  • Keep doors and windows closed at night

These precautions also protect against malaria and dengue in overlapping regions.

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine (Ixiaro®)

We provide Ixiaro®, the licensed inactivated JE vaccine used across Europe.

Key Facts

  • Brand: Ixiaro®

  • Doses: 2-dose primary course

  • Price: £140 per dose

  • Age suitability: From 2 months old

  • Protection: Begins ~7 days after the second dose

  • Booster: Recommended after 12–24 months if ongoing risk

Vaccination Schedule

Standard schedule

  • Dose 1: Day 0

  • Dose 2: 28 days later

Accelerated schedule (18–65 years only)

  • Dose 1: Day 0

  • Dose 2: Day 7
    This provides faster protection for last-minute travellers.

A booster may be considered if you continue to travel to JE-endemic regions.

Who Should Consider the Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine?

Vaccination is recommended for travellers who:

  • Are staying long-term in rural or agricultural regions

  • Will be doing outdoor activities (camping, trekking, cycling)

  • Will be travelling during the rainy season

  • Are visiting rural families or staying in local homes

  • Are undertaking fieldwork or adventure travel

  • Are travelling to regions with ongoing JE transmission

  • Are laboratory workers exposed to JE virus

Short-term urban travellers generally have a very low risk, but vaccination can be considered depending on itinerary.

Book Your Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine in Ealing

Northfields Travel Clinic provides the JE vaccine on-site at Bramley Pharmacy, 261 Northfield Avenue, Ealing (W5).

Use our online booking widget to schedule your 2-dose course or accelerated schedule.

Protect yourself, reduce your risk of severe neurological illness, and travel with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Japanese Encephalitis common?

No — it is rare, especially in short-term urban travellers. Risk increases with rural night-time exposure.

Can children receive the JE vaccine?

Yes — Ixiaro® is licensed from 2 months of age.

Which schedule is best for me?

For most travellers, the standard Day 0 & Day 28 schedule is used.
If leaving soon, adults 18–65 can use the Day 0 & Day 7 accelerated option.

Do I still need to avoid mosquitoes after vaccination?

Yes — JE vaccine does not prevent other mosquito-borne diseases.

How long does the JE vaccine last?

1–2 years initially. A booster is recommended if you travel again to high-risk areas.

Is the vaccine safe?

Yes. Ixiaro® is an inactivated vaccine and has an excellent safety record.

Evidence-Based Sources

Other Vaccinations