CDC reports cases of rotavirus decreased in last six months

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. Cases of rotavirus disease decreased significantly in the U.S. between November 2007 and May 2008, according to findings published in the latest issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Merck has responded to the results by saying that more monitoring and investigation are needed to determine whether the decrease is related to its rotavirus vaccine, RotaTeq. RotaTeq, which the Food and Drug Administration approved two years ago, is the only rotavirus vaccine widely used in the U.S.

The CDC announced Wednesday, however, that it would add GlaxoSmithKline’s newly approved vaccine Rotarix to a list of routine vaccinations for children.

Rotavirus causes most cases of severe diarrhea in children. According to the CDC, it results in the death of 20 to 60 children a year and the hospitalization of 50,000.

RotaTeq had sales of $190 million in the first quarter of 2008, according to Merck financial data.