Mosquito Alert! Kalinga logs 26 AMES, 10 Japanese Encephalitis cases

“Daytuy Japanese Encephalitis aggapu iti culex mosquito…Once nakagat iti tao ket adda sumrek idjay bagi na and then from that apan idjay brain. Isu iti ag inflame jay brain...”

-OPHO Disease Surveillance Coordinator Flordiliza Abay 

 

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Health authorities are sounding the alarm on mosquito control after 26 cases of acute meningitis and encephalitis syndrome (AMES) were recorded in Kalinga from January 4 to August 22, 2026, including 10 confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis (JE).

The Office of the Provincial Health Officer (OPHO) urged the public to strengthen mosquito-control measures and eliminate possible breeding sites to help prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

Data from the OPHO's Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) showed that Tabuk City recorded the highest number of AMES cases with 15, followed by Tinglayan with five. Pinukpuk and Rizal recorded two cases each, while Lubuagan and Tanudan recorded one case each.

Of the 10 confirmed JE cases, six were recorded in Tabuk City, three in Tinglayan and one in Rizal.

What is Japanese encephalitis?

In an interview with Guru Press, OPHO Disease Surveillance Coordinator Flordiliza Abay explained that Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus and transmitted through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes.

“Daytuy Japanese Encephalitis ngay ket isu ti aggapu iti culex mosquito, adu adu gamin ti klase na ti lamok, ngem daytuy nga culex ket isu pag gapwan iti Japanese Encephalitis. Once nakagat iti tao ti culex mosquito ngay ket sumrek idjay bagi na and then from that apan idjay brain. Isu iti ag inflame jay brain... daytuy nga culex ket once kinagat na iti baboy ket inkagat na tao diyay nga matamaan jay tao,” Abay said.

Abay clarified that Japanese encephalitis is not transmitted directly from one person to another, explaining that humans are considered a dead-end host for the virus.

“Ti end host na daytuy nga virus ngay ket Tao, haan nga kasla nga dengue nga nu ti adda idjay bagi ti tao ket balin nga maka alis, haan nga maka alis jay human to human uray nu jay adda ti J.E jay maysa ubing uray makagat suna ti lamok ket haan suna maka alis ti tao. Direct from pig to human, isu ti cycle na,” she added.

JE affects the brain

Abay said Japanese encephalitis primarily affects the brain, resulting in neurological manifestations.

Among the symptoms observed in affected patients are tremors and paralysis, particularly in the limbs. Children with high fever may also develop tremors, she said.

“Adda ngay napan tayo binisita nga cases tayo dituy province ket idjay mo ngay nga makita talaga iti tamaan na daytuy ket utak. Ket iti manifestation na kaadwan ket nu ti number 1 ngay ket jay parkinsonians or jay ag tremors iti ima. Nu nangatu iti fever jay ubing usually ag manifest iti tremor. Kin nu i observe tayo jay lower extremities or jay saka ket usual manifestation ket paralysis or asymmetric limb paralysis... dadduma nga signs, pakakitaan metlang ngay ket cognitive impairment jay ubing even the speech impairment and then nu dayta ket recurrent ti seizure na maapektaran metlang jay learning and behavioral problem na nu haan nga maagapan,” Abay said.

She stressed that early attention is important because severe cases may result in neurological complications, including problems affecting learning and behavior.

Fight the mosquito

Since Japanese encephalitis is transmitted through infected mosquitoes, Abay said prevention should focus on avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding sites.

She advised the public to observe preventive measures similar to those used against dengue, including wearing long sleeves, using mosquito-repellent lotion and sleeping under mosquito nets.

“Pinaka main ngay nga ibaga tayo nga prevention na daytuy ket pada na metlang ti dengue. Nga dapat dagituy ubbing dapat agusar da kuma long sleeves ta haan directly makagat or agusar da dagiyay lotion nga haan asitgan iti lamok... Advisable met nga agusar dagiti tat tao iti kulambo tapnu haan tayo makagat ti lamok.”

Abay also emphasized the importance of cleanliness and eliminating stagnant water, where mosquitoes can breed.

“Ngem ti emphasize mi ket cleanliness la unay, sur suruten tayo nga 5S and kay 4T nga advice ti DOH, nu adda ti danum uray ba bassit. Nu haan tayo naibelleng jay danum ket ag accumulate iti culex idjay talaga umadu,” she stressed.

With 26 AMES cases and 10 confirmed Japanese encephalitis cases recorded so far this year, health authorities are urging Kalinga residents to take mosquito-control measures seriously—starting with keeping homes and communities free of potential breeding sites.