The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in partnership with CDC and the CDC Foundation, have released the report, “Global Burden of Norovirus and Prospects for Vaccine Development.” The report brings together the work of norovirus researchers and vaccination experts from around the world to describe the burden of norovirus globally and outline further research needed to fill gaps in knowledge and move towards making norovirus vaccines a reality.
Norovirus causes almost one-fifth of all diarrheal disease globally and is estimated to cause up to 200,000 deaths annually. Incidence of norovirus infection is highest in young children, and severe outcomes, including hospitalization and deaths, are common among both children and the elderly. Considering the substantial disease burden and the difficulty in controlling norovirus, vaccination may be the best way to effectively control norovirus in the wider community.
In addition to laying out what is known about the global burden of norovirus and current understanding of infection and immunity, this report outlines the compelling need for a norovirus vaccination program and how technical challenges might be overcome in order to develop a vaccine that will benefit the populations who need it most.
Read the report at www.cdc.gov/norovirus/downloads/global-burden-report.pdf.