First report from the Asian Rotavirus Surveillance Network

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe dehydrating diarrhea in children worldwide.
• The introduction of rotavirus vaccines necessitates accurate data on disease burden.
• Existing surveillance data for rotavirus hospitalizations were insufficient for informed vaccine policy decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and assess the initial experience of the Asian Rotavirus Surveillance Network (ARSN).
• To collect reliable data on rotavirus disease impact across a diverse Asian region.
• To provide a foundation for rotavirus vaccine introduction decisions.

Main Methods:

• The Asian Rotavirus Surveillance Network (ARSN) was established as a collaboration of 36 hospitals in nine countries.
• A uniform World Health Organization protocol was used for surveillance of rotavirus hospitalizations.
• Data were collected from August 2001 through July 2002.

Main Results:

• Rotavirus accounted for 45% of all acute diarrheal hospitalizations among children aged 0-5 years.
• Rotavirus was detected year-round across all participating surveillance sites.
• This represents a higher burden of rotavirus disease than previously estimated in the region.

Conclusions:

• The ARSN provides a novel, efficient, and regional approach to surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases.
• The network enhances data collection, visibility, and training for rotavirus surveillance.
• The ARSN model can serve as a paradigm for rotavirus surveillance in other global regions.