Multisectoral Collaboration and Its Impact on Reducing Japanese Encephalitis (JE)/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in India: An Integrated Approach to Global Health Security

Introduction:
Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in India reflects complex interplay of factors at the agent–host–environment interface, involving Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and other zoonotic pathogens such as scrub typhus, West Nile virus, Leptospira etc. The interconnected risks underscore the critical need for a robust coordinated multisectoral approach.

This presentation examines how multisectoral collaboration contributed to the decline of AES/JE and how improved understanding of AES aetiology reshaped program strategies.

Methods:
A qualitative synthesis of national program interventions using a multisectoral collaborative implementation model. Methods included on-the-spot field visits by health workers, strengthened program-manager supervision, periodic reviews, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation. inputs were drawn from cross-sectoral partners—Health, Animal Husbandry, Rural Development, Education, Tribal Health, Panchayati Raj Institutions, national and international agencies like BMGF, PATH, medical colleges, and research agencies (ICMR, NIMHANS). Importantly, GHSA–CDC-supported laboratories and surveillance platforms significantly strengthened AES/JE diagnostic capacity and case confirmation.

Results:
Serological and molecular evidence identified scrub typhus as responsible for nearly half of AES cases, with dengue, malaria, and other pathogens contributing substantially. Only 10–15% were JE, challenging earlier assumptions. Targeted interventions for these etiologies, combined with JE vaccination, vector control, and improved diagnostics, led to substantial reductions in AES cases and deaths.

Coclusion:

The study highlights how evidence-driven governance and cross-sector coordination can transform policy, strengthen practice, and advance sustainable AES/JE control.