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U.S. Purchases $32.8 Million More Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines

February 1, 2025 • 4:44 am CST
from Pixabay 2025
(Vax-Before-Travel)

While Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) cases are rare in the United States, this mosquito-transmitted virus is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in many countries of Asia and Pacific countries, with an estimated 100,000 clinical cases every year.

To ensure its military personnel are fully protected from JEV infection, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) initiated a new $32.8 million contract with Valneva SE to supply its Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine, IXIARO®. The new contract will commence immediately.

Under this one-year contract, the DoD can purchase additional doses during twelve months.

Dipal Patel, Chief Commercial Officer of Valneva, commented in a press release on January 30, 2025, “We are honored to continue our long-term relationship with the DoD. The U.S. military has trusted IXIARO® for over ten years to help protect military personnel, their families, civilian government service personnel, and government contractors from this potentially deadly disease.”

Deliveries of IXIARO® doses have continued in 2024 under the DoD supply contract signed in September 2023.

According to the World Health Organization, JE is fatal in approximately 30% of those who show symptoms and leaves half of survivors with permanent brain damage. The disease is endemic in Southeast Asia, India, and China, regions with more than three billion populations. 

In 2024, JEV was detected in mosquitoes in various areas in Australia.

NSW Health Dr. McAnulty commented in a related press release, “These detections indicate the risk for mosquito-borne virus transmission is widespread, particularly in the NSW local government areas at higher risk of JE in the inland regions."

“I encourage anyone planning to spend time outdoors in these higher-risk areas to take steps to protect against mosquito bites."

Since millions of international travelers visit Australia annually, the U.S. CDC suggests travelers speak with a travel vaccine expert about immunization options before traveling abroad. In the U.S., IXIARO® is commercially offered at travel clinics and pharmacies.

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