Global Rotavirus Surveillance
Spotlighted Features
Globally, rotavirus is the cause of about 600,000 diarrheal deaths every year, 80% of which occur in poorer countries. In addition, many more children will get dehydrated and require medical intervention and hospitalization. Several vaccines against rotavirus have been or are being developed to reduce this burden.
The Rotavirus Vaccine Program (RVP), a collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO), the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is funded by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI).
The RVP aims to expedite the development and introduction of rotavirus vaccines. One component of this agenda is the derivation of regional and local disease burden estimates to help make the case for vaccination and to support countries in deciding to introduce rotavirus vaccines or not. The CDC and WHO have developed a generic protocol for standardized surveillance of rotavirus disease, and in collaboration with other RVP partners, CDC supports rotavirus surveillance in five regional networks (over 40 countries) across the globe.
Regional Acronyms:
- AFRO: African Region
- SEARO/WPRO: Southeast Asian Region/West Pacific Region
- EMRO: Eastern Mediterranean Region
- EURO: European Region
- PAHO: Pan American Health Organization Region
Content last reviewed on May 10, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
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