The Hunter New England Health district has recorded a record number of patients presenting with Rotavirus this year, almost doubling the previous record since vaccinations began in 2007.
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Rotavirus is a common cause of severe gastroenteritis for babies and preschool children worldwide, with infection caused, like the flu, by close person-to-person contact and touching contaminated hands or faeces.
While NSW Health has registered 1300 laboratory confirmed presentations of Rotavirus in NSW this year, the Hunter New England has recorded 108 to October, up by over 40 per cent on the previous record of 62 cases.
“Immunity from the vaccine wanes over several years, so that every few years there will be sufficient numbers of people who did not gain protection from the vaccine, or have lost protection, to allow an outbreak to occur,” a NSW Health spokesperson said.
HNEH Public Health Doctor Linda Jones said they are unsure at this stage whether the infected children have not been vaccinated, or whether it is a mutant strain of the virus that is vaccine resistant.
Since the vaccination was put on the government program in 2007 we have seen an 85 per cent reduction in hospitalisations. It is very effective.
- HNEH Public Health Doctor Linda Jones
“It is important to note that it is in a vaccine program, taken orally at two months and four months,” Dr Jones said.
“NSW Health is investigating the increase in cases of the circulating strain – at the moment we don’t know if the confirmed cases were in vaccinated or unvaccinated children.
“The vaccine covers five strains of Rotavirus. Those five strains are usually responsible for 90 per cent of cases, and the vaccine prevents 70 per cent of people getting gastro.
“In the Hunter New England region we have very good vaccination coverage.”
Prior to the vaccine being listed on the government program in 2007, Rotavirus was one of the top reasons for children to present to emergency departments in NSW.
“Since the vaccine came in we have seen an 85 per cent reduction in hospitalisations,” Dr Jones said.
NSW Health is expecting a reduction in cases heading into the warmer months, although there is also some simple measures people can take to protect themselves even further.
“Number one is the vaccine, it is very effective,” Dr Jones said.
“Washing hands thoroughly and avoiding daycare or childcare if children are showing symptoms will also help stop the spread of Rotavirus.”
