Kathmandu, Aug. 9 -- At least nine people have died and 37 others have been infected with Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus in less than a month, and health officials warn that the toll could rise as the peak season for the mosquito-borne disease approaches.

What has particularly concerned immunisation officials is the death of a person in Nawalparasi East, where authorities had launched a JE vaccination campaign a few months ago.

"Our surveillance and investigation show that the person who died of JE infection was unvaccinated," said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. "Coverage of JE vaccination in Nawalparasi East was only 77 percent and the recent de...