title: Conquering rotavirus: from discovery to global vaccine implementation.
abstract: Rotavirus, the commonest cause of severe dehydrating gastroenteritis world-wide, was discovered less than 50 years ago. It causes about 450,000 deaths per year in children <5 years of age and hospitalises millions more. Rotavirus vaccines have been shown to have a major impact on hospital admissions due to rotavirus gastroenteritis and all-cause gastroenteritis and reduce mortality in developing countries. In Australia, there has been a 71% decrease in rotavirus hospitalisations in children 0-5 years of age. From the discovery of rotavirus as the major causative agent for severe gastroenteritis, through vaccine development and vaccine post-marketing surveillance activities, Australian scientists and clinicians have played a significant role in the global effort to reduce the burden of rotavirus infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bines
authors.forename: Carl D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D014943:Global Health; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000266:history*
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines
keywords: diarrhoea; gastroenteritis; rotavirus