Rotavirus Disease Burden in Africa and the Need to Accelerate Introduction of Vaccines

ABSTRACT

It is important to establish the burden of rotavirus disease before and after the introduction of a rotavirus vaccine. Regional effortshave focused on building an unequivocal evidence base for rotavirus diarrhoea to support decisionmaking and sustained investment in new vaccine introduction. WHO recommends routine use ofrotavirus vaccines in all countries; particularlyin those with high mortality attributable todiarrhoeal disease. In countries where diarrhoeal deaths account for more than 10 of mortality inchildren aged under five years; the introduction of the vaccine is strongly recommended. This article reviews the available literature and summarizesthe estimated number of deaths in children underfive years attributable to rotavirus diarrhoea in the WHO African Region. Based on the available data; it can be concluded that the rotavirus disease burden is very high and that the introduction of rotavirus vaccines should be accelerated in the Region