Molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of enteric viruses in children under 5 years of age with acute gastroenteritis in Norway in pre-rotavirus vaccination era.

This PhD project is part of the National follow-up of rotavirus vaccination in the Childhood Immunisation Programme. The PhD student, Moustafa Gibory, MSc, is studying the genetic diversity and molecular epidemiology of rotavirus and other enteric viruses before and after implementation of rotavirus vaccination in infants. In order to be able to monitor vaccine effectiveness on severe rotavirus disease in more detail, a study of the rotavirus incidence in young children began in January 2014. The study is focusing on children under the age of 5 who had been ill with diarrhoea and vomiting at five major Norwegian hospitals; Østfold Hospital Kalnes, St. Olavs Hospital in Trondheim, Stavanger University Hospital, Akershus University Hospital and Oslo University Hospital Ullevål.