Effect of irrigated rice agriculture on Japanese encephalitis, including challenges and opportunities for integrated vector management

Product review on the JE vaccine IXIARO

“…9 The reasons for this increased geographic distribution are uncertain but might include population shifts or changes in climate, ecology, agricultural practices, animal husbandry, or migratory bird patterns. 10,11,12 These factors could contribute to further spread, including potentially beyond Asia and the western Pacific. 13 JEV is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes.…”

Systems Thinking: Prevention and Control of Japanese Encephalitis - "The Plague of the Orient"

“…Growing water shortages in many areas create an incentive to better control of irrigation water. AWDI is also one such strategy (Keiser et al, 2005). A study found that the AWDI has reduced the immature stages of Cx.…”

“…An important feature of this technique involves the alternate wetting and drying of paddy fields, which in turn curtails the life cycle development of the mosquito from larvae and pupae to adult (Keiser et al, 2005). In order to achieve a significant reduction of mosquito larvae, AWDI (also termed intermittent irrigation) has to be applied during the entire cropping season and should cover all rice fields.…”

“…The crop yield was examined in two trials and increases between 4 and 13% were observed in AWDI rice fields (Lu-Baulin, 1988). The effect of this method on the incidence of JE has to be investigated (Keiser et al, 2005).…”

Infectious Disease Research—What Role Is There for Hydrologists?

“…It is mostly a rural disease caused by Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes (main vector), which breed in rice paddies (Table 4). The increasing amount of rice paddies and irrigation support the transmission of Japanese encephalitis [41]. Mosquito control, with environmental management like intermittent irrigation, is used to reduce breeding sites.…”