title: Hospital-based surveillance for rotavirus gastroenteritis in children younger than 5 years of age in Ethiopia: 2007-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rotavirus surveillance was initiated in Ethiopia to estimate the burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis in children <5 years of age, to generate data to assist the policy-making process for new vaccine introduction and to monitor impact of vaccination on disease burden after introduction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sentinel surveillance was conducted at 3 hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia using a standardized WHO surveillance protocol from August 2007 to March 2012. Children <5 years of age, hospitalized for the primary reason of treatment for acute gastroenteritis, were enrolled, stool samples were collected and tested for group A rotavirus using an enzyme immunoassay. Confirmed positive specimens were further characterized by rotavirus genotyping.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1841 children were enrolled and 21% were rotavirus positive. Children 6-12 months of age had the highest proportion of rotavirus (36%) followed by children <6 months of age (23%). There was no significant difference between sexes. Significant differences in clinical characteristics, such as vomiting, vomiting episodes, cases with vomiting and diarrhea among rotavirus positive cases, were observed. Rotavirus circulated year round with peak prevalence from October through January. The most prevalent detected genotypes were G1P[8] (20%), G12P[8] (17%) and G3P[6] (15%), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rotavirus infection is common in Ethiopian children. A safe and effective intervention against the infection is needed to prevent severity of the disease. Rotavirus vaccine introduction is planned before the end of 2013. The established surveillance system and the data generated can be used to monitor the impact of rotavirus vaccination program on severe disease.
authors.affiliation: From the *Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute; †Yekatit 12 Hospital, AAU Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; ‡MRC/UL Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Department of Virology, Medunsa Campus, University of Limpopo/National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria, South Africa; §BeteZata Hospital; ¶Black Lion Hospital, AAU Medical Faculty; ‖WHO Country Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and **WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO), Brazzaville, The Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Almaz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abebe
authors.forename: Telahun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teka
authors.forename: Tassew
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kassa
authors.forename: Mapaseka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seheri
authors.forename: Berhane
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beyene
authors.forename: Birke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Teshome
authors.forename: Ferehiwot
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kebede
authors.forename: Abebe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Habtamu
authors.forename: Lorens
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maake
authors.forename: Aron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kassahun
authors.forename: Mekonnen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Getahun
authors.forename: Kassahun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitiku
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mwenda
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance