ATLANTA, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Rotavirus -- severe acute diarrhea in young children -- fell substantially after introduction of a vaccine to combat it, U.S. health officials say.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report said Thursday before introduction of a rotavirus vaccine in 2006, rotavirus caused an estimated 20-60 deaths, 55,000-70,000 hospitalizations, 205,000-272,000 emergency department visits and 410,000 outpatient visits annually in children under the age of 5.
Researchers at the CDC analyzed data from a national network of sentinel laboratories that showed the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons were both shorter and later than during pre-vaccine seasons in 2000-2006.
Although the 2008-09 season had slightly more positive rotavirus test results than in 2007-08, the number of positive test results for both seasons was substantially lower than during 2000-2006, the report said.
Worldwide, rotavirus is the leading cause of severe acute diarrhea in children age 5 and under.
