Wild beehive nest under a staircase. Captured in Kerala, India.

Wild bees nest. Captured in Kerala, India.

Wild beehive nest under a staircase. Captured in Kerala, India.

Wild beehive nest under a staircase. Captured in Kerala, India.

Wild bees nest. Captured in Kerala, India.

Wild bees nest. Captured in Kerala, India.

Fly through a forest in Manor, Maharashtra, India.

Aerial view of a valley, Manor, Maharashtra, India.

Aerial view of a river, Manor, Maharashtra, India.

Aerial view of a valley, Manor, Maharashtra, India.

Aerial view of a river at sunset, Manor, Maharashtra, India.

Researcher transferring Culex sp. mosquitoes using a pooter, a device which allows the user to suck up small invertebrates through a tube. Species in the Culex genus are vectors (carriers) of Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus. They are particularly prevalent in parts of south and south east Asia where lowlands prone to flooding provide ideal conditions for them to breed. Mosquitoes typically infect animals such as pigs which act as reservoirs for the virus without suffering symptoms. Mosquitoes then feed on these animals, known as amplifying hosts, before biting humans and infecting them with a high viral load. JE infection in humans primarily affects the brain, causing flu-like symptoms, behavioural changes, headaches and convulsions. It has a mortality rate of around 30% and 30-50% of surviving patients are left with permanent neurological disorders. There are no specific treatments, but vaccines can prevent infection. Filmed during the Japanese encephalitis outbreak in India in 2005. This outbreak killed 1,344 people.