Public Health Experts Join Forces on Rotavirus in Asia

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC (Nov. 6, 2007) — Health experts from around the Asia-Pacific region will come together in Bangkok Nov. 13-14 to discuss ways to mitigate the devastating impact of rotavirus in the region.

Family Health International will host the Asia-Pacific Rotavirus MetaForum, where regional clinicians, public health officers and policy makers will discuss the impacts of rotavirus disease, hear how countries are managing and preventing it, and discuss ways to reduce the related social, economic and health system burden.

"We are pleased that this event will bring together both international experts in rotavirus disease and public health policy makers. Our critical goal for the event is to identify and agree on actionable steps that we can take to address the devastating human, social, and economic burden of rotavirus disease in the region," says Janet Robinson, director of research for FHI's Asia Pacific Region in Bangkok.

Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrhoeal disease and dehydration that can lead to death in infants and young children. More than 55 percent of global deaths associated with rotavirus disease are estimated to occur in this Asia region, where a high incidence of rotavirus exists.

The sudden onset of symptoms means the health of children with rotavirus can decline rapidly, which is why so many infants require treatment in hospitals – and why this illness can cause so much distress to families.

The MetaForum is designed to produce a regional consensus statement of guidelines for addressing rotavirus disease in the Asia Pacific region. The gathering, which will feature speakers from around the region, is co-chaired by two of the region's leading public health experts, Professor Somsak Lolekha, president of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of Thailand, and Professor Lulu Bravo, president of the Asian Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases and vice chancellor at the University of the Philippines.

Participating organizations include the Chinese University of Hong Kong; the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (ICDDR); the Ministry of Health of Thailand; the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI); Merck Sharp & Dohme; and GlaxoSmithKline.

For more information about this forum, which will convene at the Grand Westin Hotel, contact Winnie Hui.  Journalists: Please contact media@fhi.org.

Photo (on home page): cropped from image by F.P. Williams, U.S. EPA