Rotavirus from children of an urban settlement of Papua New Guinea.
Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe dehydrating diarrhoea among children admitted to hospitals in Papua New Guinea. A community-based study in an urban settlement of Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, revealed that rotavirus was a major cause of diarrhoea, especially of the severe type, in this community. Two serotypes of rotavirus were observed and were explained on the basis of a 'shift and drift' phenomenon, or an introduction of a new strain from outside. Implications for such observations are far reaching in developing countries and it is recommended that intervention strategies other than vaccine development be explored.
Bukenya
G B
GB
Department of Community Medicine, University of Papua New Guinea, Boroko.
Kaiser
R
R
Nneka
N
N
D000208:Acute Disease; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology