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Global rotavirus network increased surveillance capacity
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To help reduce mortality and morbidity associated with rotavirus, WHO recommends that all countries include the rotavirus vaccine into their national immunization programs.
“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,” researchers wrote.
The Global Rotavirus Surveillance Network (GRSN) was created in 2008 to produce data for decision making regarding rotavirus vaccine introduction and use; assess and monitor disease trends; create a platform for vaccine effectiveness studies; and highlight the importance of surveillance data.
The GRSN includes the Global Rotavirus Laboratory Network (GRLN), designed to conduct diagnostic testing for rotavirus diarrhea and distinguish dominant genotypes among strains isolated in different locations. As of April, the network includes 107 sentinel hospital laboratories, 36 national laboratories, nine regional reference laboratories and one global reference laboratory.
WHO established a rotavirus laboratory technical working group in 2012 to create ways to improve laboratory network capacities and increase standardization of key methods and procedures.
Data reported through GRSN includes percentage of children hospitalized for rotavirus and strain prevalence in each WHO region and country.
“The number of reporting countries has grown from 44 in 2008, to 64 in 2011,” researchers wrote. “During the same period, the number of participating sentinel hospitals expanded from 132 to 185, and the annual number of enrolled children increased from 41,414 to 48,947.”
WHO and partners have begun an in-depth review of data from the past 5 years.
“This review will identify strengths and weaknesses of the GRSN, including the GRLN, and will guide decisions on strategies and actions to ensure the network is responsive to information needs of all immunizations stakeholders,” researchers wrote. “The review also will provide recommendations related to the potential use of the network for surveillance needs around vaccines in development and other important gastroenteric pathogens.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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