To the Editor: We are writing in response to the perspective on Japanese encephalitis (JE) by Erlanger et al. (1). Growing awareness is encouraging, yet because JE is a largely neglected disease, information is often contra-dictory or not readily available. We would like to supplement the authors' review with clarification on available vaccines and actions countries are tak-ing to evaluate and control JE.There is room for improvement or expansion on collecting and report-ing JE surveillance data. However, as vaccine availability increases, many countries are eager to determine the impact of JE and to make informed decisions on immunization programs. For example, surveillance in Indo-nesia from 2005 through 2006 con-firmed human cases throughout the country (2). In Cambodia, JE surveil-lance commenced in 2006, and an im-munization program is being planned (2). Regional JE laboratory networks established by the World Health Or-ganization are also helping countries gather this information by strengthen-ing diagnostic capacity.Cambodia plans to introduce the live, attenuated SA 14-14-2 vaccine from China's Chengdu Institute of Biological Products. This vaccine has recently become internationally avail-able and is increasingly replacing the inactivated, mouse brain–derived vac-cine in Asia. A single dose of the SA 14-14-2 vaccine demonstrated 96% efficacy after 5 years (3), and the In-stitute's commitment to an affordable price for developing countries has broadened accessibility (4). The gov-ernment of India introduced the SA 14-14-2 vaccine in 2006, and nearly 50 million children 1–15 years of age have been reached through vaccination campaigns and routine immunization. The vaccine also is available through public programs or private markets in China, Nepal, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Thailand
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