New data on rotavirus vaccine from Mexico and Africa show lifesaving impact in the developing world
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 19:42
in Health & Medicine
For the first time ever, studies in Mexico and Africa, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrate a reduction in diarrheal disease deaths following rotavirus vaccine introduction in Mexico and vaccine efficacy among impoverished populations in Malawi and South Africa. Both studies underscore the importance of vaccination in achieving significant reduction of severe rotavirus infections among children in the developing world, where disease impact is greatest. Worldwide, rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea, which takes the lives of more than 500,000 children under 5 every year - with almost half of these deaths occurring in Africa - and causes the hospitalization of millions more.