New recommendation on Japanese encephalitis vaccination for travellers to Papua New Guinea

To the Editor: The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is responsible for maintaining and updating the Australian immunisation handbook, on behalf of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).1 At its 25th meeting, in April 2004, ATAGI discussed data (then unpublished) presented by Hanson and colleagues on evidence for the spread of Japanese encephalitis virus beyond the Western Province of Papua New Guinea to the Port Moresby region.2 ATAGI believes it is probable the virus has spread to other parts of Papua New Guinea.

The current (8th) edition of The Australian immunisation handbook states on page 179: “Current understanding of the ecology of the JE [Japanese encephalitis] virus elsewhere in Papua New Guinea is fragmentary and unsubstantiated. Therefore no definitive recommendations about JE vaccination for travellers to other parts of Papua New Guinea can be made at the current time.”

ATAGI agreed that the evidence provided by Hanson and colleagues was compelling, and sufficient to warrant expanding the current recommendation for Japanese encephalitis vaccination. ATAGI is proposing the recommendation be changed to include travellers staying more than one month in all parts of Papua New Guinea, not just those planning to stay in the Western Province.

A public consultation process to change this recommendation is being conducted as part of the requirements of the NHMRC Act 1992. A public consultation paper is available from the Immunise Australia Program website (www.immunise.health.gov.au). Submissions close on 17 September and can be directed to Ms Letitia Toms, Assistant Director, Immunisation Section, Department of Health and Ageing, MDP 14, GPO Box 9848, Canberra, ACT 2601 (letitia.tomsAThealth.gov.au).