Impact of Rotavirus Vaccination on Viral Gastroenteritis Diseases

Abstract

100 Rotavirus infection is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and children1-3. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.4 million hospital admissions and 527,000 deaths annually are attributed to rotavirus infection and the estimated rotavirus related global death during 2008 was 453,000 (420,000 – 494,000) child deaths1,4. Because of the worldwide burden of rotavirus infection, the introduction of vaccination to prevent and minimize rotavirus associated morbidity and mortality has been a public health priority to several countries1.