Rotavirus surveillance in the African Region

Updates of Rotavirus surveillance in the African Region

During the period June 2006 to December 2008, rotavirus surveillance were established in 18 sites of 13 African countries. Of 7914 stools collected from < 5 children hospitalised with acute gastorentritis, 2980 (38%) were positive for rotavirus. 90 % of all rotavirus hospitalizations occurred in children between 3- 12 months.

Table 1: Summary of AFR Rotavirus Surveillance Data as of December 2008

A total of 1123 ELISA rotavirus positive stool samples were further characterised using RT PCR at the RRL, DPRU, South Africa during annual Rotavirus Genotyping Training Workshops orgainzed each year starting 2007.

The results indicate that of the five gobally predominant rotavirus strains only G1P[8] (22.3%), G2P[4] (6%) and G9 [P8] (9%) were detected during 2006 – 2009. During this period, G and P mixed infections and other unusual rotavirus strains were also detected (17.6%) and 24% respectively, representing approximately 42%.

Table 2: Number (%) of rotavirus strains circulating in selected African countries; June 2006 – May 2009