Resources

Glossary

Booster
An extra vaccine dose given when the protection from the first dose(s) starts to decline. It helps to strengthen the immune response and make it last longer.

DEET
A common active ingredient used in insect repellents, short for N,N-Dietyl-m-toluamide.

Encephalitis
A serious condition causing swelling of the brain often caused by a virus (such as the JE virus). Symptoms include headache, fever, seizures (fits) and confusion.

Inactivated vaccine
A vaccine that uses a killed or inactivated version of the germ that causes a disease.

Insect repellent
A product that repels and deters biting pests like mosquitoes and ticks.

Live vaccine
A vaccine that contains a weakened (less strong) form of the germ that causes the disease. Live vaccines create a strong and long-lasting immune response. They are not suitable for people who have weakened immune systems or who are pregnant.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
An active ingredient used in insect repellents, also known as p-methane-3-8-diol (PMD).

Permethrin
A product that kills mosquitoes. You can use it to treat clothing and gear (like bed nets) or buy clothing and gear that already has permethrin in it.

Picaridin
An active ingredient used in insect repellents.

Transmission
The process by which viruses and other germs spread from one person or animal to another. For example, Japanese encephalitis spreads through mosquito bites.

Vaccine
A type of medicine that teaches your body to fight germs without making you sick.

Virus
A small germ that can infect you and make you sick.