Kathmandu, Oct. 8 -- Since June, 31 people have died and 133 others have been infected with the Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus in Nepal.

Both deaths and the number of infections are at their highest levels in recent years, health officials say.

According to data from the Ministry of Health and Population, 74 percent of those who died from JE were above 40 years of age, which means the unvaccinated population is at high risk of getting severe and dying.

"We are aware of the rising death toll from JE and are making every effort to make people aware of the risks," said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. "Mass vaccination of the unvaccinated populat...