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Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus
Published on: January 28, 2019
Building laboratory capacity to support the global rotavirus surveillance network
Insights
Global rotavirus surveillance networks were established to monitor virus strains and inform vaccine introduction. Quality data from these networks are crucial for understanding disease burden and tracking vaccine impact in children.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Virology
- Immunization
Background:
- Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrhea and mortality in children under 5 globally.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) established rotavirus surveillance networks in 2001 to prepare for vaccine introduction.
- Two WHO-prequalified oral rotavirus vaccines were licensed in 2006, offering protection against various rotavirus strains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the expansion of rotavirus laboratory surveillance networks to a global scale.
- To detail the implementation of data quality assurance measures for reliable surveillance data.
- To highlight the role of timely, quality surveillance data in informing rotavirus vaccine policy and monitoring impact.
Main Methods:
- Establishment and expansion of regional and global laboratory surveillance networks.
- Monitoring of rotavirus detection and strain types in hospitalized children (<5 years).
- Implementation of data quality assurance protocols for laboratory reporting.
Main Results:
- Rotavirus surveillance networks have been expanded globally.
- Data quality assurance measures have been implemented to ensure reliable reporting.
- Surveillance data provide essential baseline estimates of rotavirus disease burden.
Conclusions:
- WHO recommends rotavirus vaccination for all countries to reduce childhood morbidity and mortality.
- Quality surveillance data are vital for informed decision-making on vaccine introduction and impact assessment.
- Global surveillance networks are essential for monitoring rotavirus disease trends and vaccine effectiveness.
Abstract:
In 2001, in anticipation of rotavirus vaccine licensure and introduction, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners established regional laboratory surveillance networks for rotavirus detection and strain type monitoring among hospitalized children aged <5 years. In 2006, two WHO-prequalified oral rotavirus vaccines were licensed: a 2-dose, single-strain vaccine (Rotarix, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals) and a 3-dose, multistrain vaccine (RotaTeq, Merck). Both vaccines provide protection against a range of rotavirus strain types, generally classified as G and P types based on specific viral proteins. Based on results of clinical trial data, disease burden data from surveillance networks, and findings from vaccine impact studies, WHO recommends that all countries include rotavirus vaccination in national immunization programs. Vaccination is recommended to help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with rotavirus, a leading cause of diarrhea in children aged <5 years that was responsible for approximately 450,000 deaths in 2008. This report describes the expansion of the regional rotavirus laboratory surveillance networks to a global surveillance network, the implementation of data quality assurance measures to ensure quality laboratory data reporting to support rotavirus surveillance activities, and data reporting through the surveillance network. Timely, quality surveillance data can provide baseline estimates of rotavirus disease burden to inform decisions regarding rotavirus vaccine introduction in national immunization programs and can help monitor the impact of vaccine introduction on disease trends.
