First report from the Asian Rotavirus Surveillance Network.
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.
Bresee
Joseph
J
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. jbreese@cdc.gov
Fang
Zhao-Yin
ZY
Wang
Bei
B
Nelson
E A S
EA
Tam
John
J
Soenarto
Yati
Y
Wilopo
Siswanto Agus
SA
Kilgore
Paul
P
Kim
Jung Soo
JS
Kang
Jung Oak
JO
Lan
Wong Swee
WS
Gaik
Chan Lee
CL
Moe
Kyaw
K
Chen
Kow-Tong
KT
Jiraphongsa
Chuleeporn
C
Ponguswanna
Yaowapa
Y
Nguyen
Van Man
VM
Phan
Van Tu
VT
Le
Thi Luan
TL
Hummelman
Erik
E
Gentsch
Jon R
JR
Glass
Roger
R
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
D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines