Pretoria - The Gauteng Department of Health has dismissed rumours of a Rotavirus outbreak in the province.
This follows reports claiming hospitals in Gauteng have had an increase in incidences of babies with gastroenteritis - despite having taken the Rotavirus vaccination that should have prevented this.
“Rotavirus vaccine works only against the Rotavirus, and Rotavirus is not the only cause of childhood gastroenteritis. Other causes include changes from liquid to solid foods, food allergy, bacterial and viral infections, including HIV,” the department explained on Tuesday.
While it is true that Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea worldwide, studies carried out by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) have shown a marked reduction in Rotavirus-related gastroenteritis in the country.
“Since Rotavirus is not the only cause of gastroenteritis in children, it is possible for a child to have gastroenteritis even though they have been immunised against Rotavirus, which is administered at six and 14 weeks.” – SAnews.gov.za
