Rotavirus Update

RVP Awards Grants for Expanded Asian Rotavirus Surveillance Network
RVP is pleased to announce it has awarded nearly US$1 million to support rotavirus surveillance in Asia. Forty-one hospitals and a variety of outpatient clinics will be conducting studies to determine the disease burden in their area. This information will help ministries of health and others make informed decisions regarding the adoption of a rotavirus vaccine.

These new awards will support the expansion of the Asian Rotavirus Surveillance Network (ARSN), which was established in 2001 with original funding from the CDC, PATH, GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck. Nine countries contributed to the original ARSN. They found that in ARSN countries severe rotavirus accounts for 40 to 60 percent of hospitalizations for diarrhea among young children — double previous estimates.

Under the expanded surveillance program, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Philippines will initiate rotavirus surveillance as new members of the ARSN network. Of the original ARSN countries, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand will continue surveillance activities.

Rotavirus Reference Laboratories Established
With support from RVP, rotavirus reference laboratories are being established in Asia and Africa. These laboratories provide technical support and capacity for countries conducting rotavirus surveillance. Reference laboratories provide training, quality assurance and control functions, technical expertise to investigators, and rotavirus strain characterization where needed.

In Asia, the reference laboratory is at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute at Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. In Africa, in collaboration with WHO and the WHO African Regional Office, two reference laboratories have been established to assist the African Rotavirus Network (ARN). One laboratory is at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Ghana, and the other is at the Medical University of Southern Africa.

Sixth Symposium on Rotavirus and Rotavirus Vaccines Planned for Mexico City, July 7-9
A group of global health organizations — led by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, the Pan American Health Organization, WHO, and the CDC Foundation — is sponsoring a timely and important global meeting to discuss the latest rotavirus research results, trials of new vaccines, new vaccine approaches, and vaccine finance and introduction issues. Participants include scientists, clinicians, public health professionals, immunization leaders, vaccine industry representatives, and members of the donor community. The goal is to update research and public health agendas related to rotavirus gastroenteritis and to encourage collaboration and exchanges of information. Five main session topics include: Epidemiology and Disease Burden; Virology, Pathogenesis, and Immunity; Past Experience with Rotavirus Vaccines; Results with New Rotavirus Vaccines; and From Vaccine to EPI Implementation.

RVP is pleased to be a cosponsor of this event. For further information, visit www.internationalrotavirus.com.

NIAID Rotavirus Vaccine Licensed for Commercialization
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has announced that an oral rotavirus vaccine created by NIAID scientists in the mid to late 1980s, has been licensed to BIOVIRx, Inc. of Minneapolis, MN. BIOVIRx, which is responsible for obtaining requisite marketing approvals for this product, plans global commercialization of the oral vaccine (RotaShield®). A complete press release can be found at www.nih.gov/news/pr/may2004/niaid-04.htm.

PAHO Issues Report from the Regional Meeting on the Implementation of Rotavirus Epidemiological Surveillance
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has released the final report from the Regional Meeting on the Implementation of Rotavirus Epidemiological Surveillance, which was held in Lima, Peru on September 5-6, 2003. The objectives of the meeting were to share knowledge about rotavirus, progress in the development of new vaccines, experiences with surveillance, and information about the work being carried out in the region. The report is available online at: www.paho.org/English/AD/FCH/IM/RotavirusRegMtg_Sept2003.pdf.

RVP Launches Website
For information on the latest developments in our ongoing effort to accelerate the introduction of rotavirus vaccines, visit www.rotavirusvaccine.org. The web site contains a range of information including resources for surveillance, important articles, and recent news about rotavirus outbreaks.

BBC to Broadcast Immunization Documentary: “Fragile Lives — Immunization at Risk”
On May 29 and 30, 2004, as the centerpiece of their Science and Health series, BBC World will be airing a documentary, "Fragile Lives — Immunization at Risk." Childhood immunization has been hailed as "the greatest public health success story of all time," yet today, childhood immunization faces obstacles never seen before. While immunization still saves three million young lives each year, millions more could be saved if there were enough vaccine, and enough political will to protect all children in need. Filmed on location in Africa, Asia, and Europe, with support from PATH's Children's Vaccine Program and UNICEF, this hour-long program brings to life the human face of immunization, its promises, and its challenges.

The Rotavirus Vaccine Program is a limited liability company of PATH.