The Nagaland Health Department has confirmed nine cases of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in the state in 2025, prompting the issuance of a public health advisory amid the ongoing monsoon season.

In a statement, the Department of Health and Family Welfare said that JE is a mosquito-borne viral infection transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant water bodies such as paddy fields and ponds. The disease can cause brain inflammation and may lead to death in severe cases.

Health officials noted that for every symptomatic JE case, there could be 300 to 1,000 asymptomatic infections. Pigs serve as amplifying hosts, though the virus does not spread through human-to-human contact.

“There is no specific antiviral treatment available for JE. Supportive care is provided based on symptoms, and the incubation period ranges from 5 to 10 days,” the advisory stated.

District health units have been instructed to step up disease surveillance, undertake fogging operations, and increase public awareness initiatives. Citizens experiencing symptoms such as high fever, headache, vomiting, or confusion are advised to seek immediate medical attention.

The health department also stressed the importance of routine immunisation, timely reporting of cases, and community participation to curb the spread of the infection.