Singapore: Sarawak, a Malaysian state, had conducted a successful vaccination campaign for infants to eradicate Japanese encephalitis (JE) from the state. The program was designed to vaccinate infants aged nine and 21 months. Recently eight JE cases were reported in the country.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said at a media conference that Sarawak was the only state in the country to use vaccination as a tool to curb the havoc of JE and the measure had proven to be immensely successful. He added that the model was being studied and evaluated for its potential use in other states too, to contain the disease.

He emphasized that in addition to getting vaccinated, people must exercise better mosquito control to prevent the spread. He also added that since mosquitoes proved to be the vector, a committee comprising the Health Ministry, Veterinary Department and Local Authorities have been formed to conduct holistic measures to destroy mosquitoes.

He said that Sarawak was the safest state in terms of disease control, with no dengue cases too being reported from the state so far. He said that the situation in Selangor was worst with about 2,300 dengue cases being reported weekly, claiming 87 lives so far.