It is suggested that rotavirus infection be subject to notification

Such an initiative paves the way for more cases of the disease to be reported in real time, so it will be easier to monitor the effectiveness of the rotavirus vaccination programme, the authority assures. With the duty to report and continuously monitor the disease, it is also hoped to increase knowledge about the epidemiology of the disease, which in turn can lead to targeted efforts that reduce the spread of the virus.

The rotavirus vaccine was introduced into the general vaccination program for children on September 1, 2019, Reported by Dagens Medicine.

Read also: Vaccinating more children against rotavirus

The proposal was sent for referral to regions of the country as well as to several specialist associations, including the Swedish Society for Infectious Diseases and the Swedish Association for General Practice. The counseling responses must have been received by the Ministry of Social Affairs no later than March 31 of this year, and the Ministry proposes that the rotavirus notification obligation is effective as of January 1, 2023.

If the proposal becomes a reality, the reporting obligation will be limited to physicians who perform microbiological diagnosis and are responsible for such a laboratory, the Public Health Agency asserts, thus hoping to reduce the administrative burden on physicians’ treatment.

The most common symptoms of a rotavirus infection are diarrhea and vomiting. The infection is rare in children in Sweden, but they often spend in hospital.