How Is the Japanese Encephalitis Virus Transmitted?

Japanese encephalitis virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. People with the infection do not transmit the disease to other people.

Transmission mainly occurs in rural agricultural areas, but it can also happen near urban centres in some regions of Asia. In the temperate areas of Asia, transmission is seasonal, with peaks in summer and fall. In Asia's subtropics and tropical regions, transmission can occur year-round, with a peak during the rainy season.

While Japanese encephalitis is primarily mosquito-borne, there has been a recorded case in Hong Kong where Japanese encephalitis was transmitted by blood transfusion.