Laboratory-Based Surveillance for Rotavirus—United States, July 1996-June 1997

doi:10.1001/jama.279.3.192-jwr0121-5-1

Abstract

Rotavirus infections are the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis among infants and young children worldwide. Each year in the United States, rotavirus infections account for an estimated 3.5 million cases of diarrhea, 500,000 physician visits, 50,000 hospitalizations, and 20 deaths among children aged <5 years. In addition, rotavirus accounts for 30%-50% of U.S. hospitalizations for diarrhea among children aged <5 years, including approximately 50% of hospitalizations for diarrhea during annual seasonal peaks, and is an important cause of nosocomial gastroenteritis. Rotavirus activity in the United States is monitored by the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS), a voluntary, laboratory-based system. This report summarizes surveillance from NREVSS during July 1996-June 1997.

Highlights

HUMAN MONKEYPOX is a severe smallpox-like illness caused by monkeypox virus (MPV); monkeypox occurs in sporadic outbreaks, and infection is enzootic among squirrels and monkeys in the rainforests of western and central
In 1996, cases of monkeypox were reported from villages in the Katako-Kombe Health Zone, Kasai Oriental, Zaire
In October 1997, active case ascertainment was conducted in the KatakoKombe and Lodja health-care zones, Kasai Oriental, Democratic Republic of

Summary

Leads From the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

HUMAN MONKEYPOX is a severe smallpox-like illness caused by monkeypox virus (MPV); monkeypox occurs in sporadic outbreaks, and infection is enzootic among squirrels and monkeys in the rainforests of western and central. Human-to-human transmission has continued for 2 years with peaks each August, and cases have occurred throughout large areas of the Katako-Kombe and Lodja health-care zones. The large number of cases in this outbreak may reflect an increase in the number of susceptible persons as a result of the cessation of smallpox vaccination, which is highly effective for preventing monkeypox, or changes in other factors related to MPV transmission. Clinical disease in this outbreak was milder than in previous outbreaks, when case fatality was approximately 10%.1. If human monkeypox transmission is sustained without introduction from reservoir animals, vaccinia vaccination[5] targeted to the appropriate population may be considered

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Findings

Units is available from the Prevention