Health Canada - CCDR Vol. Cases of viral encephalitis have been occurring in Malaysia since October 1998. To date there have been 166 cases and 61 deaths. The second virus, a member of the paramyxovirus family, is similar to the Hendra virus found earlier in Australia. Although JE has been confirmed to be the cause of 24 of the reported deaths, evidence now points to the second virus being involved in at least eight fatal cases.
Further investigations are now under way to determine the role of the two viruses.
Between six and 90 cases of JE are reported each year in Malaysia. Major outbreaks occurred in Langkawi in 1979, Penang in 1988, and in the Serian district of Sarawak in 1992. In the initial stages of the current outbreak, evidence pointed to JE because of the association of all the cases with pigs and pig farms. However, JE usually affects children and most of the cases in the current outbreak have been young adult males. All have been workers at pig farms or closely associated with pigs.