LIVERPOOL research has led to more than 50m people being vaccinated against a lethal brain bug.

The infection, called Japanese encephalitis (JE), affects thousands of children across Asia every year.

But findings from the University of Liverpool researchers have led to a successful jab that protects against the disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes.

The research has helped to detect those who have the infection and also build up a profile of its symptoms.

It was originally found in pigs and wading birds in areas of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that JE affects approximately 50,000 people a year and kills around 15,000.

Those that survive the infection can be left brain damaged.

Scientists in Liverpool, Asian governments, the WHO and the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), are developing immunisation programmes, with the support of funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Vaccinations have now reached more than 50m children. Professor Tom Solomon, Head of the University’s Brain Infection Group, said: “Although we knew this disease was important, five years ago it was virtually unrecognised due to the difficulty in diagnosing cases.

“We have been developing ways of diagnosing JE.”