ISOLATION OF JAPANESE B ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS: REPORT OF A FATAL CASE IN AN AMERICAN SOLDIER RETURNED FROM KOREA

References to only three cases of Japanese B encephalitis occurring in persons in the United States after arrival or while en route to this country from epidemic centers in the Far East have been published. 1 From none of these was the isolation of the virus reported. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Japanese B encephalitis in the United States in which the etiological agent has been recovered. Report of a Case Present Illness.— A 22-year-old enlisted man was admitted to the U. S. Army Hospital, Fort Lawton, Wash., on Sept. 13, 1954, complaining of fever, retro-orbital pain, and headache of two days' duration, not relieved by acetylsalicylic acid, acetophenetidin, and caffeine (ACP) capsules or other medication. On the previous day, the patient had nausea and was hospitalized aboard ship after three episodes of vomiting. There were no cramps or diarrhea, nor was there any difficulty in