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The effectiveness of vaccines to mitigate the impact of annual seasonal influenza epidemics and influenza pandemics has been well documented. However, the steady increase in global capacity to produce annual seasonal influenza vaccine has not been matched with increased demand, and thus actual vaccine production. Currently, without a significant increase in demand for seasonal influenza vaccine, global capacity will be far from able to meet even the essential needs for a monovalent vaccine in the event of a severe influenza pandemic. Global commitment to the development of influenza vaccine production capacity was renewed at a consultation leading to the Second Global Action Plan on Influenza Vaccines (GAP) in July 2011. To monitor progress on the GAP, the World Health Organization has carried out periodic surveys of influenza vaccine manufacturers. This latest survey compares current maximum global capacity and actual production of seasonal influenza vaccine in 2011 with data from surveys carried out in 2009 and 2010; analyses global influenza production capacity in the context of sustainability; and discusses options to increase demand, based on strong evidence of public health benefit.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is endemic in the Terai region of Nepal. There is little information on the occurrence of JE outside the Terai and particularly in the densely populated Kathmandu valley. Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) cases were detected using a sentinel surveillance system that has been functioning since 2004. JE was confirmed using anti-JE IgM ELISA. All laboratory-confirmed JE cases that occurred in the Kathmandu valley during 2006 were followed up for verification of residence and travel history. JE was confirmed in 40 residents of the Kathmandu valley, including 30 cases that had no history of travel outside the valley during the incubation period. Incidence was 2.1/100,000 and the case fatality was 20% (8/40). Currently, JE prevention is focused on the Terai region in Nepal; given the evidence, this should be reviewed for the possible inclusion of the Kathmandu valley in the national JE prevention and control program.

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