Wrong info on Japanese encephalitis causing panic

An organization of pediatricians specializing in infectious diseases has lamented the misinformation in social media over cases of Japanese encephalitis, which has caused undue panic.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines said the misinformation on social media had led the public to think that there was a surge of the disease.

“It is because of the misinformation in social media. It caused panic as the public thought there was an increase in cases,” said Dr. Salvacion Gatchalian, immediate past president of PIDSP.

He said what actually increased was the number of people reporting symptoms of the disease and those seeking to get vaccinated against it.

“But as to the laboratory-confirmed JE cases, there are only a few cases,” he said.

Japanese encephalitis, characterized by inflammation of the brain, is a viral disease transmitted through mosquito bites.

The Department of Health said there had been a 50 percent decrease in Japanese encephalitis cases this year.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said there were 133 confirmed Japanese encephalitis cases as of Aug. 26 compared to last year’s 273.

“There is no need to really have their children vaccinated because that is already part of the normal endemic diseases in this country,” Ubial said.