Merck and Co reveals drop in rotavirus disease

A report from the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown that the number of cases of rotavirus disease was lower between November 2007 and May 2008 in the US compared to previous years.

Merck and Co has said that further investigation is required to ascertain whether the reduction was related to the use of Rotateq (rotavirus vaccine, live, oral, pentavalent).

Mary Allen Staat, professor of pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati, commented: “Although these data are preliminary, as a paediatrician I am excited about the marked reduction in rotavirus disease we saw this season which coincided with increasing uptake of Rotateq (rotavirus vaccine, live, oral, pentavalent).

Rotavirus is the main cause of severe acute gastroenteritis in babies and young children globally.

Worldwide, approximately one child per minute dies from rotavirus every year, with 80 per cent of deaths occurring in low-income countries, Merck and Co reports.

Earlier this year, Merck and Co announced that the US Food and Drug Administration wasto review whether Gardasil (human papillomavirus quadrivalent), the cervical cancer vaccine, was suitable for use in women aged 27 years old to 45 years old.