Karachi: Rotavirus is a leading cause of diarrhoea and gastro-enteritis among infants and children worldwide, and is said to be responsible for 20 per cent of acute watery// diarrhea in children younger than five years of age.

According to the latest surveillance data, a total of 20 percent and 38 per cent cases in Pakistan were tested positive in 2006 for rotavirus at NICH and Kharadar Hospital, respectively.

The virus is a major cause of infant mortality and hospitalisation in the rest of the country, and 5-6 percent of all mortality under the age of five may be attributable to rotavirus. This was revealed by Dr Nighat Aijaz and Dr Yasmeen Kazi in a presentation they made on Rotavirus Surveillance in Karachi at a seminar at the National Institute of Child Health.

The speakers emphasised upon the need for use of rotavirus vaccine, which they said can become a powerful tool against the virus that causes diarrhea in infants.

Rotavirus incidents are on the rise across the country, said the speakers.

According to the findings of data on rotavirus cases recorded in different cities, an alarming rise in the incidence of rotavirus cases was witnessed in Lahore and Peshawar in 2006.

Source: Bio - Bio Technology
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