title: First report from the Asian Rotavirus Surveillance Network.
abstract: Rotavirus remains the most common cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea among children worldwide. Several rotavirus vaccines are under development. Decisions about new vaccine introduction will require reliable data on disease impact. The Asian Rotavirus Surveillance Network, begun in 2000 to facilitate collection of these data, is a regional collaboration of 36 hospitals in nine countries or areas that conduct surveillance for rotavirus hospitalizations using a uniform World Health Organization protocol. We summarize the Network's organization and experience from August 2001 through July 2002. During this period, 45% of acute diarrheal hospitalizations among children 0-5 years were attributable to rotavirus, higher than previous estimates. Rotavirus was detected in all sites year-round. This network is a novel, regional approach to surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases. Such a network should provide increased visibility and advocacy, enable more efficient data collection, facilitate training, and serve as the paradigm for rotavirus surveillance activities in other regions.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. jbreese@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bresee
authors.forename: Zhao-Yin
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: E A S
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Yati
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Soenarto
authors.forename: Siswanto Agus
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wilopo
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kilgore
authors.forename: Jung Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Oak
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Wong Swee
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Chan Lee
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gaik
authors.forename: Kyaw
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.forename: Kow-Tong
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chuleeporn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiraphongsa
authors.forename: Yaowapa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ponguswanna
authors.forename: Van Man
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Van Tu
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.forename: Thi Luan
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hummelman
authors.forename: Jon R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gentsch
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Glass
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines