Diagnosis of Rotavirus Infections in 2004, Major Characteristics in 1998–2004 in the Czech Republic

Overview

In 2004, 3,821 rotavirus infections were laboratory confirmed in 59 laboratories of the Czech Republic. Latex agglutination test is used by 34, i.e. 57.6 %, of these diagnostic laboratories. Children under 3 years of age prevailed among the persons tested and positivity was confirmed in 20.8 % of these children. Specific morbidity in this age group was 675 cases/100.000 population/year. As many as 2,146 sporadic cases and 413 cases from 17 outbreaks were reported to the Public Health Service in 2004. Altogether 57.9 % of laboratory confirmed infections were reported. Nine probably imported cases and two fatal cases (in a 96-year-old woman and a 8-month-old boy) were recorded. Data from 1998–2004 confirm concern about rotavirus infections. The incidence rates of rotavirus infections peaked between January and May during the study period.

Key words:
rotavirus infections – laboratory surveillance – death – incidence – seasonal trend.