Hospital based surveillance and molecular characterization of rotavirus in children less than 5 years of age with acute gastroenteritis in Nepal

Rotavirus remains a significant causative agent of childhood acute gastroenteritis, particularly among children less than 5 years of age. Although precise data on childhood mortality associated with diarrheal disease in Nepal is not available, it is estimated that22% of all rotavirus deaths globally occurs in neighboring country of India. In spite of the substantial burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis in the Indian subcontinent, rotavirus vaccine has not been introduced in Nepal. Continuous surveillance for monitoring rotavirus disease burden and molecular characterization is needed prior to rotavirus vaccine introduction in Nepal. A total of 3310 stool samples (2849 hospitalized cases and 461 non-hospitalized cases), were collected from patients