Kathmandu, Sept. 18 -- Nepal is witnessing a steep surge in cases of Japanese encephalitis infections, a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain. The disease is not only making people sick but also taking a heavy toll, which immunisation experts say is alarmingly high.

Health ministry data shows that out of 121 infections since June this year, 26 people have died, a 21.5 percent fatality rate, the highest of all vector-borne diseases in the country.

Japanese encephalitis cases have risen steadily in Nepal since 2022, when at least four people died out of 79 infections. In 2023, 108 people were infected, of which 20 had died; 2024 saw 86 infections and 28 deaths; while in 2025, 41 people had died out of 183 infections.

The n...